The Biggest Loser and Regain: Share Tips and Self-Reflection

[Alex Brecher 10,494]

Thanks for all the great comments and for keeping this discussion positive and constructive – it could easily have gone the other way.

I agree with many of you that The Biggest Loser does not do enough to help contestants make sustainable changes. You’re right: working out 5-6 hours per day is not realistic long-term. I also fault the show for implying that working out that much is necessary for weight loss. It is not. As you all know, losing weight is far more closely tied to what and how much you eat than to your exercise, although exercise can support weight loss and is of course important for health.

I think the show could still be popular while being a little more helpful and humane. It could, for example, focus a little more on eating, since that is the key to weight loss. It could include psychological counseling – or if it already does, it could actually show us that part!

I am very pleased to see how much thought so many of us have put into maintenance and sustainable healthy changes. I think that’s a good sign for keeping the weight off!