I suppose if you like the exploitation of overweight people then maybe Biggest Loser is your thing. Starvation, deprivation, and being pushed to ones physical limits are apparently good forms of entertainment now days. Who wouldn’t want to watch a fitness trainer drive contestants to the point of tears and emotional breakdowns? And of course the cameras are there to capture every breath-taking second. It seems that the drama of unrealistically rapid weight loss is compelling and I simply can’t appreciate it.
I realize I am in the minority and that The Biggest Loser is a huge hit. Its viewers think it is moving and openly cry tears of joy when an overweight contestant drops weight.
Nothing says true beauty and inspiration like dropping tons of weight in a quick crash diet like time period, right?!
But what is Biggest Loser doing to promote a healthy lifestyle? Is this sort of hasty weights lose obtainable long term? Experts say no. Biggest Loser also fails to appropriately address emotional reasons for weight gain. This sort of thing takes professional therapy.
Kia Hibbard, a former Biggest Loser contestant, has come forward recently to reveal that the reality competition not only forced her to lose weight in most unhealthy ways possible, but also gave her an Eating Disorder….one that she still battles with today. Kudus to Kia for having the guts to come forward about this.
And if you think I sound bitter about Biggest Loser…don’t even get me started on Jillian Michaels (aka the worst role model in the history of women) I don’t really even need to explain myself on this one…I’ll I feel I need to point to is this:
"I can't handle doing that to my body," -Jillian Michaels when referring to pregnancy.
I don’t even know how to begin addressing the issues Jillian must have with her own self esteem. I truly feel sorry for her. I’ve suffered from an eating disorder and I can smell one from miles away. Jillian is doing nothing more than glorifying the “skinny is everything” mindset. I worry about this woman. I pray to god she has limited contact with children…she has done enough damage to grown adults.
I will close my rant by saying I would rather see a show promoting a long-term healthy lifestyle no matter what your size that is not so heavily focused on numbers.
I am sure I offended some BL fans. I would say that I am sorry but to be honest, I really am not. I think that everyone, regardless of weight is beautiful. The inside is what matters most, the outward is only temporary. True health (physical and mental) should be the focus, not the numbers on the scale.
