4 Issues Scientists Have With The Biggest Loser

tincanonastring

kgeyser wrote: »

While all this may be true, an hour long show about people who weigh their food isn't going to get viewers. The physical aspect is what draws people in, because there's a sense of reward to watching it. You watch them start the challenge, see them struggle, cheer them on, and then they finish. Hitting tare on the scale just doesn't have the same spectator impact or sense of overcoming an obstacle.

They also aren't going to focus on food on TV because it's difficult to film people eating. The microphone picks up on every noise, which makes it sound unappealing to begin with, but then when you have a bunch of overweight people who already deal with the idiotic stigma of being viewed as "gross" when they eat. It would be a ratings nightmare.

Yeah, why bother focusing on shopping and food choices, meal planning and prep, cooking tips, etc.? Whoever heard of a successful cooking show? Sheesh! It's not like you could incorporate cooking challenge shows or anything, where contestants have to use the same ingredient and come up with a good tasting dish, to be decided by foodie judges. That'll never catch on.

mcbluesky

I know it has a bad reputation, and I also get that it is not realistic. I am, however, inspired by the physical and mental transformation the participants under go. I can relate to some of the issues the participants have experienced that got them to their state of obesity. It is just as valuable to understand why people overeat to the point of severe obesity as it is to provide tools, knowledge, and accountability. Everyone is there by choice. While it may not be the safest approach, and certainly is over dramatized for TV, the participants are at a point in their lives where this may be the last chance at improving their health. Many of the participants continue to lose weight, and gain self esteem, long after they get eliminated.

brower47

abatonfan wrote: »

I saw that article last night. In all honesty, I'm close to boycotting The Biggest Loser -it seems like the entire franchise is more concerned about profits than health (creating retreats where people can fork over 2.5K a week to live like a contestant? creating boot camp subscription videos?).

They've never been concerned with anything but profits. It's why they have the formula they have and have stuck with it because it's been an advertising gold mine. They never cared about the contestants. If they had, the show would have been cancelled before season 1 even finished.

Unknown

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brower47

SolotoCEO wrote: »

Plus, if you've ever personally known someone who appeared on the show, you know it's reality TV and not reality. People don't lose 30 lbs. in one week - it's been lots of weeks. Weekly weigh-ins aren't just one week apart.

Off topic, but go Broncos!!!

Sorry. I will refrain from doing that again.

RGv2

Not sure if this is any better, but I used to watch the crap out of these about 10 years ago.

http://www.mtv.be/shows/340-i-used-to-be-fat

EvgeniZyntx

I find myself in the awkward position of defending that terrible show - no, "many scientists" have not decided to study that show - there is a list of about twenty articles on pubmed.

Let's not confuse what the show is about. It's about schadenfreude and a dollop of mudita. It's TV selling the insulting "freak" show. It is not a handbook on weightloss, although it does profit from selling a bunch of derivative items on weight loss.

Looking at the first few articles cited - the actual abstracts or articles - these are poorly done. For example, counting the amount of minutes spent on exercise vs diet recommendations tells us nothing on the impact of viewers on perception of which is more important or even influence. A counter example would be to look at this site's logo or name which spend 100% of the positioning on activity or fitness and not calorie counting and yet....

Good research review is critical of content not just critical of fad TV.

BoaRestrictor

realityfades wrote: »

I wish we'd have an American Supersize vs Superskinny. I'd watch the heck out of that. TBL is kind of boring...

I thought there was word on them working on an American one now?