The fifth UK series of ‘The Biggest Loser’ started last night on ITV. From my perspective as a personal trainer, there are so many things wrong with this programme, I barely know where to begin, but here are just three of my major concerns:
1. Inappropriate, potentially harmful workout and exercise selection
The whole show is riddled with this, but was quite spectacularly demonstrated by last night’s opening task for the participants; a 5km run.
Running and even jogging are high impact, demanding activities which are not the best first choice activity for people who are morbidly obese and haven’t exercised in years. The best beginner’s running programmes advocate slow starts - getting people to walk before they run - before gradually increasing the intensity and duration of the effort.
For someone who is severely overweight, merely walking even a short distance can be a huge challenge to the cardiovascular and the musculoskeletal systems - if you’re not overweight and doubt this, try walking with 50-100% of your bodyweight in weights/sand/bricks/gravel placed in a rucksack.
In addition, the long-term effects of suddenly introduced, high impact exercise on the joints of obese individuals was clearly not taken into account, but the series only lasts 8 weeks, so that isn’t important, eh?
Which leads me on to:
2. All for the show, all go!
It’s fairly obvious that the production demands far outweigh the professional standards usually expected of the trainers.
I get it. I have to confess that I used to work in production on TV reality shows in a former existence and I know pretty much exactly what goes on behind the scenes.
Shows like this, while purporting to be in the interests of the contestants being ‘helped’, are actually all about the ratings and what better way to boost ratings than by broadcasting what amounts to a freak show.
As ITV proudly declare on the programme’s webpage, ‘this series tough challenges see them [the contestants] race up a mountain in the Brecon Beacons; pulling a red Routemaster bus 200m; an excruciating challenge involving sand mountains; a gruelling stadium challenge in the U.S.A. and much more’.
Stunts like these are easily defended by TV press officers and production staff by saying that:
a) they’re helping the participants to lose weight, gain confidence, make the most of their incredible journey back to health and increased longevity.
b) they have a team of experts, doctors, trainers, dieticians and others on hand to advise and help out at all times.
c) Look at the results! These people lose a ton of weight, don’t they? They’re very happy with what they achieved, aren’t they?
d) the programme helps to raise awareness of obesity and related medical issues. It’s educational.
OK, but the bottom line is that there are safer alternatives to sensational activities such as ‘pulling a red Routemaster bus’ - I’m sure that all three trainers could come up with some good ones.
Sadly, they might not be as watchable…
3. Morally dubious psychology
The show suggests:
This is the last chance for these people.
I say:
No, it isn’t.
The show suggests:
The only way to train effectively is to get constantly beasted (sorry ‘trained’) and bawled at (sorry ‘encouraged’).
I say:
No, it isn’t. There is a place for the drill sergeant attitude in the world of personal training, but there are plenty of alternatives which, while nowhere near as traumatic, are nonetheless effective.
It worries me greatly that viewers of the show may come to the very wrong conclusion that all exercise must be miserable, painful, tough and vomit-inducing and therefore never take that vital first step to moving more, losing weight and getting fitter themselves.
The show suggests:
These people may have only a short time left to live (see next week’s episode).
I say:
Possibly true, but is telling them that on camera really for their benefit, or is it rather for the entertainment of the Great British viewing public?
The show suggests:
By making the contestants take part in ‘Food Dilemma Challenges’, ‘they must have the willpower to resist the dietary choices that previously helped them pile on the pounds’.
I say:
I wonder if Ofcom would allow producers to do similar things to alcoholics or drug addicts? For example, ‘The Carlsberg Special Brew Can Dangle Challenge’ sponsored by, erm, Carlsberg?!
The show suggests:
Each week, the eliminated contestant didn’t lose quite as much weight as the others, therefore they obviously didn’t try hard enough, so they must be kicked out. But they do get free gym membership, diet and exercise plans and membership of the BL club, so it’s all good!
I say:
Oh dear. Getting someone to shed blood, sweat and tears, not to mention subjecting them to public humiliation and ridicule, only to be kicked out anyway, is worse than cruel. I can only wonder what the psychological implications of this are.
Why not let all the participants stay the course and see who loses the most overall at the end of the eight weeks? Weekly winners could be rewarded in different, healthy, ’good telly’ ways.
You’re right. Because that wouldn’t be as entertaining.
The show suggests:
Look at these amazing rates of weight loss over the 8 weeks! You too can and should aspire to this rate of loss at home!
I say:
The losses are, of course, impressive, but rates of loss such as these fly in the face of all responsible dietary and medical advice.
You really shouldn’t try this at home - these people are living in controlled conditions, eat only what they’re provided with, take part in daily, multiple exercise sessions and receive regular medical attention during the course of the programme.
Losses like these are unsustainable and unrealistic for most people. A weight loss of a pound or two per week may seem disheartening in comparison, but, in actual fact, a gradual loss such as this is far safer, more sustainable and less likely to result in a rapid rebound weight gain which often occurs after crash dieting.
That’s about it, but, in closing, I’d like to say that I really do hope that broadcasters will one day find an alternative to the all-pervasive ‘freak show’ health programme format.
There is a pressing need for good quality, entertaining and educational programming, focusing on exercise, healthy eating and so on, which does not need to be presented using the same, exploitative methods as those used in 'The Biggest Loser'.
