The biggest loser

[opeth1989]

So, my dad usually watches the biggest loser TV show every time he sees it, he tells me how these people are inspirational. For those of you who do not know, The Biggest loser is a TV show about dangerously obese people, trying to make a change in their lives and lose as much weight as they can during a specific amount of time on a TV show.

I am a big enough guy, 6foot 2 270 lbs, no where near the contestants of the show but still, it would not hurt to lose the extra pounds, I've always wondered how much of the show was real, and if it was really healthy to push these people physically to their limits. Well I got my answer.

I loged on to youtube today and saw a new video by user boogie2988 about this subject.

He explains how his friend ( a former contestant of the biggest loser ) has been having health problems due to the show. he linked to this blog post which I would recommend reading as it might be taken down soon.

http://truthinchange.com/2011/10/real-reality-the-scary-truth-and-scandal/

I thought I would share this with you guys and help him get the word out. It is truly sickening to see how low producers will stoop in order to get better ratings.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Television is exploitative? Who knew...

Seriously though, I hate reality TV shows, mainly because I see a future akin to Battle Royal (if you haven't seen it, it's a Japanese film/manga series that has Delinquent/Rebellious Teenagers who are chosen in a lottery according to their schools and class, kill each other in a grand deathmatch for public viewing).

Yeah I'm stretching it a bit, but come on, the producers of these shows could not give any fucks whatsoever.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Reality show demonstrates questionable ethics, news at 11:00.

This guy, though...for heavens sake. He was 715 pounds, and he can't shut up about how "he never had any health problems before losing the weight".

Being 715 pounds isn't a health problem, now?

 

[WaruTaru]

Reality show demonstrates questionable ethics, news at 11:00.

This guy, though...for heavens sake. He was 715 pounds, and he can't shut up about how "he never had any health problems before losing the weight".

Being 715 pounds isn't a health problem, now?

Compared to what he went through just for that TV show? If I were him, I'll gladly take my chances and stay at 715 pounds.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Compared to what he went through just for that TV show? If I were him, I'll gladly take my chances and stay at 715 pounds.

He wouldn't be on the television show taking stupid risks if he wasn't 715 pounds in the first place. When I decide to lose some weight I just eat well and exercise for a while, because I don't have 500+ pounds to lose before I'm not a walking time bomb. I understand his frustration with the show, and it all sounds awfully dodgy and scummy, and to that extent I sympathize. But him playing it off like he was this perfectly healthy dude who got bamboozled is a little hard to take. He was 715 pounds. I don't doubt that he almost died from weight loss. I also don't doubt that he wasn't going to be around long at 715 pounds, either.

 

[Sir Prize]

Not to be offensive but said person, James, went on the show of his own will. He didn't bother to look into any of the possible issues that may come out, he just believed them. Never trust something like that on face value and if you sign anything, get a lawyer to look over it or at least read over it probably. If something sounds dodgey and alike, don't do it.

Look I have sympathy of people getting screwed over here, but the guy on the video is complaining about advistment and alike. Most shows that get popular do that, while that doesn't make it right, it's hard to fault them in that respect.

Sure they have caused someone a fair amount of suffering, but the guy was old enough to know better. It's hard to stick up for someone who just believed people who were telling him to get dehydrated and such. Even I could tell those would be bad ideas and he could have refused. Sure he might have been forced to quit the show, but it might have been for the best.

All this being said, those are some very bad and harmful pratices, and the producers shouln't be saying their okay. That's out and out lieing.

 

[Ragsnstitches]

Ya know, I cant help but notice how this guy states several times (in the blog article) that he KNEW what was being done with him, that he knew the whole thing was dangerously unhealthy, that he knew it was all bullshit... Well for fucks sake, pull the breaks then, dont sign the fucking contract, refuse to take the pills, whatever. Its common knowledge that the media as a whole doesnt care much for the individual and puts that care into profit instead. Its like selling your soul to the devil and then complaining that you end up in hell.

Here's the problem... no matter how much your mind screams at you that something is amiss, people will doubt their own instincts. His gut reactions were in competition with sweet talkers and professional manipulators, on a public show that airs hope stories, while also been under medical supervision. One should be forgiven for doubting ones own judgement and thinking it as nothing but paranoia.

I agree with the rest of your post though.

snip

The guy is using the damage caused to himself as a launching point to bash this show for seriously sketcy practices. He's not looking for sympathy or support, he states towards the end he does not expect any form of compensation BECAUSE he signed a contract and he realises his stupidity too little to late.

He suffered enough, don't call the victim out as if it's entirely his own fault.

 

[AlphaEcho]

Reality TV has been linked to a drop in moral's and maturity in society, they are all shit. From the biggest loser to the smallest shore in Jersey.

 

[Sir Prize]

Ya know, I cant help but notice how this guy states several times (in the blog article) that he KNEW what was being done with him, that he knew the whole thing was dangerously unhealthy, that he knew it was all bullshit... Well for fucks sake, pull the breaks then, dont sign the fucking contract, refuse to take the pills, whatever. Its common knowledge that the media as a whole doesnt care much for the individual and puts that care into profit instead. Its like selling your soul to the devil and then complaining that you end up in hell.

Here's the problem... no matter how much your mind screams at you that something is amiss, people will doubt their own instincts. His gut reactions were in competition with sweet talkers and professional manipulators, on a public show that airs hope stories, while also been under medical supervision. One should be forgiven for doubting ones own judgement and thinking it as nothing but paranoia.

I agree with the rest of your post though.

snip

The guy is using the damage caused to himself as a launching point to bash this show for seriously sketcy practices. He's not looking for sympathy or support, he states towards the end he does not expect any form of compensation BECAUSE he signed a contract and he realises his stupidity too little to late.

He suffered enough, don't call the victim out as if it's entirely his own fault.

Look, I am against the producers and think this guy is doing right by informing others. Hopefully people will stop signing contacts and avoid these things like fire. However I really take issue with how the person in the video explains it. Sure it's not his fault entirly, but the man talkiing does need to explain the situation in full.

EDIT: Or maybe state that it was somewhat his friend's fault.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Really rapid weight loss is unhealthy along with dehydration? I never knew that.

Wait no everyone knows that or should. I mean really he just continued with the show even though that he knew it was crap just because a producer said so in an email? I mean I know it was good to make it known but this should be really fucking obvious to everyone from the get go. You are supposed to lose something around l-1.5 lb a week.