Why Fitness Pros Criticize 'The Biggest Loser'

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I was one of the trainers who provided comments for the IDEA article. As a leader in the fitness industry, it is important for me to consider the impact of anything in the public eye that affects how the public perceives fitness in general, and trainers in particular.
The trainers on BL might be great, bad, or something in between, but we don't really know. Why? Because on the show they aren't really trainers. They are camp counselors at the world's most watched fat camp.
In the real world, you can't yell and cuss out every client or you'll soon be out of clients. In the real world, you need more depth and range to your personality. In the real world, you can't use one approach with everyone and expect them to fit your way of doing things.
It's clear that Bob and Jillian care greatly for the contestants and want to see them succeed. So, especially in Jillian's case, why be so one-dimensional? It gets boring after a while.
Last season, when Bob yelled at someone it got everyone's attention because he doesn't do it with everyone, all the time. Jillian yells and we nod off on the couch. It's the fitness version of the "boy who cried wolf."
You have to ask yourself; why does the show elicit such a universal response from members of the industry when it is nearly impossible for large numbers of people to agree on anything (and this is true in the fitness industry, for sure!)
The reason is that much of what you see perpetuates the many damaging stereotypes of trainers and for those not smart enough to separate fact from fiction, it leaves them with unrealistic expectations.
And finally, they need to keep topping last year. So, you see what happened in episode 1 this year. A woman passed out and needed to be airlifted to the hospital. How important was it to finish that last 100 yards? And amazingly, while Shay was on her way back INTO the gym to resume her workout, she got berated by Jillian for quitting.
I can assure you, no one I've ever worked with has collapsed and needed a helicopter ride to the hospital, fallen off a treadmill, or puked during a workout (a real sign you don't know what you're doing as a trainer).

Jonathan Ross, award-winning fitness professional of MD 5:15PM September 18, 2009

I am a certified personal trainer with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. Of course it is unrealistic to think you can lose 15-25 pounds in a week... about as unrealistic to think anyone at home is going to make working out their full time job! These people work out from the point of waking up until they go to bed at night. What you see in the 2 hour episode is the most extreme portions of the week because that is what draws viewers in. If they showed the parts where each contestant has to get in light cardio on their own via a late evening walk or swimming laps, noone would tune in! Also, keep in mind that probably about an hour of the two hours is recapping of what happened before the last commercial lol. I record each episode on DVR and can view the whole thing in about an hour by skipping commercials and the recaps. The show is serving its purpose if it is driving people to get up and get moving! I think the majority of Americans are savvy enough to know what is realistic and what is not. And at least they give sound advice on eating...i.e. tips on portion control, or thinking of calorie intake as a budget of cash and do you want to really spend 150 (calories) on a can of coke?
My biggest peeves about the show are, as mentioned above, the language use and the fact that when doing the weigh-ins the scale boobles around for several seconds in the fashion of the big wheel on the price is right! Otherwise, major props to a show that can capture the attention of Americans and give us all a wake up call no matter what our current size.

Joy of TN 4:48PM September 18, 2009

I'm not discouraged when my results are so very different from those I see on the show. My situation is much different. My BMI is no where near 40, I don't have a personal trainer, and I don't have eight weeks to spend away from job focusing on my weight loss. I don't know if I find the show particularly inspiring either. It's neat to watch, but I what I found the most inspiring is the Biggest Loser Challenge here at work. I'm competing with my co-workers for a $900 prize. A couple of months ago the winner lost 12% of her body weight.

Erin Howarth of OR 4:47PM September 18, 2009

I love the Biggest Loser, I never miss a show. My only problem I have with it is all the language. I have 4 kids ages 9,7,4,and 2 and I have to keep it muted just so they won't hear the bad stuff. I also hate that everyone uses Gods name in vein all the time, another reason I have to keep it on mute.
I love that the show gets people out of there comfort zone. It proves to them that they can do anything they push for. I love to workout and run, but I never really tried anything really difficult before I bought Jillian's Biggest Winner 5 DVD box set. I've been doing that for a year now. When I started it it was so hard I never thought I'd be able to do it and stay caught up with her. After a year I can't believe I wasn't able to keep up before, that just shows how far I've come. I wasn't overweight when I started, but I wasn't "cut" either. Now I have a six pack and great arms (I love my muscles). I owe it all to Jillian and my efforts. It's also made me a better runner than I've ever been and I'm going to be running my first Marathon on Nov. 22nd. My point in all that is that anyone who pushes their self can do unimaginable things. It's amazing what our bodies are capable of doing when we use them.
On the show or at home anyone can lose weight and get in awesome shape. But the show is just fun to watch and it's very motivating to me. I love to watch the success and transformations of the contestants.

Jenn of OK 3:11PM September 18, 2009

I have recently lost 30 lbs and am loosing about 2 lbs per week. 40 more to go.
I was a bicycle racer and developed bad eating habits because of stress and other factors - and the ability to loose weight when I was younger because of extreme exercise. I have always had problems with weight and have gone up and down over the years.
I have exercised in everything from karate to weight lifting to amateur racing. I understand exercise and training better than most personal trainers.
Extreme exercise will not help you keep weight off - and you cannot keep it up no matter who you are. Most retired professional bike racers are overweight and have bad habits like everybody else. Eddy Merckx had recent serious health problems from smoking and weight and Greg LaMond is far heavier now then he was in 1985. Ceck back with Lance Armstrong in about 10 years.
The problem is the American diet and the processed food industry based on farm subsidies and corn sweetener. Not to mention fat in everything to make it taste good. Add to the huge portion sizes that people have become used to and you have a disaster. The huge alcohol industry in the US is the final coffin nail.
In the end there is no magic at all to weight loss and weight management - it is what you eat and how much.
My last comment is that weight is a personal choice in the end. Anybody can loose weight if they want to. You can choose to eat less and better or you can not choose.

mike macartney of CA 12:46PM September 18, 2009

I think the article assumes that BL viewers, especially overweight viewers, are un-educated about realistic weight loss. Of course they know the show is edited. I think it is safe to say that they probably know more about what is successful or unsuccessful regarding weight loss then the fitness professionals do.
I like the comment by the drill sargent that said the slow and steady approach to weight loss is what keeps personal trainers in business. Really, do you think someone who weighs over 200 lbs is going to get inspiration from a 1-2 lb weight loss when they begin a weight loss program?
What I like about this season is they are putting more emphasis on "emotional eating" which in my opinion is what keeps people overweight more often then someone being un-educated about diet and excercise.
What I don't like is all the f-bombs this season. I think it's tacky.

Susan of VT 12:41PM September 18, 2009

People should understand by now that reality shows are not "real" life. They contestants live there, they change their lives to be there, their entire goal and focus is what they do there. So that in itself is extreme. Shouldn't we be realistic and critical of that? Of course, we will be losing more realistically 1-2 pounds a week because we aren't dedicating our entire days to this endeavor. If we were, we'd be crazy. Additionally, I don't find that the trainers are too extreme. Many reasons why we don't lose weight is because we are too lazy and don't push ourselves like we really can. This motivates people to see, yes, you can do calisthenics, yes, you can run a tad bit faster and harder, yes you need to vary your program. Yes the trainers are sensitive to injuries and tell them when they are turning to obsessive behaviors regarding eating too little. They talk about needing to eat, but the right foods. I also think some of it is dramatized, don't you? Yes, they are advertising certain brands for food choices. It's TV? Yet, I find it motivating, especially to do sit-ups or otherwise while watching. I also enjoy going to the gym and working out while they are. In comparison to all the horrible reality t.v. shows out there, this is one of the most positive and "realistic" - dare I say it.

Meg of MN 12:32PM September 18, 2009

I love the biggest looser and have watched every season-but, I am very disappointed in the profanity/obscenities that are coming from 'respected' trainers!! Last season, Bob had a f-bomb meltdown, and now Jillian had a tirade of f's and used the words "my bitch"-totally shocking! First of all, these contestants did not join the military or worse, thrown in prison. These expletives are totally unnecessary and it give NBC a blackeye as far as being an inspirational, family-friendly show. If this kind of behavior is not edited out of the show-I will cease to watch it! Move it to Bravo or another cable channel suited to this kind of claptrap. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but don't ruin a great show by berating and demoralizing the contestants!!

Previous Biggest Looser Fan of IN 12:30PM September 18, 2009

I know it's not realistic to lose that much weight that quickly but I find it still motivates me. I recently fell off the exercise wagon (for 2 months) but now have started back up again with the start of the new BL season. I also find that the BL workout dvd's are pretty good. Great workout for all levels. People are always trying to find out which workout is the best for you and the answer is quite simple - "the one you'll actually do" BL helps motivate people to get off the couch and that's all that matters.

Brian of IL 11:47AM September 18, 2009

anyone can lose weight and get fit. How many times have you missed a workout or eaten poorly because you can't make time between work, family, and keeping a home? Now imagine if you take work, family, and home out of the picture. That's The Biggest Loser. I find much of the show inspiring and motivating. However, as a Fitness Professional, I think the show sets up many veiwers for failure. The show may be "reality tv", but it isn't real life. The average person doesn't have a trainer, someone preparing health meals, state-of-the-art gym, or the pressure of MILLIONS of viewers seeing their bare stomach, thighs, and arms on a weekly basis. Here's an idea: Someone come up with The Biggest Loser vacation. It could be like adult fat camp. Instead of going on a cruise and piling on pounds, spend that money on a week on the beach with a trainer, fitness classes all day, and low-cal meals.

Haley Stone of IL 11:38AM September 18, 2009