The nonsense that passes for nutrition and exercise advice on the NBC Challenge show “The Biggest Loser” causes more problems than it solves.

Now in its fifth season, “The Biggest Loser” challenge has been one of the most popular reality shows on television since it hit the airwaves.  The show is a testament to everything that is wrong with the way that too many people view diet and exercise, and what it can and should do for you; yet the show has spawned a legion of loyal viewers and consumers willing to purchase an array of “The Biggest Loser” challenge merchandise.

From the over-emphasis on the scale, to a frightening approach towards fat burning exercises, “The Biggest Loser” challenge sends the wrong messages, messages that provide textbook examples of how some personal trainers can actually promote unhealthy habits and eating disorders.  Whether on the web site or the television show, “The Biggest Loser” challenge constantly invokes the wrong-headed and now dis-proven notion that low fat, low-calorie, low-anything food is preferable to the real thing.

On “The Biggest Loser” challenge’s web site, the show’s chef tell us, “I had food issues growing up (and) I started dieting when I was 7, and I proceeded to start every diet on the planet."  This isn’t somebody who has ever had a good relationship with food and now is an adult in the position of an “expert.”  People like this make what should be a joyful occasion – eating a hamburger – an exercise in drudgery, where you obsess about calories, portion size and grams of fat.

Despite the pretense of how great all of this is, “The Biggest Loser” challenge is a joyless one.  Joyless eating, joyless fat burning exercise and a life in which your every thought and action revolve around your snacks, meals and exercises to lose weight.  Snacks of fat-free and sugar-free food substitutes, and the concept of saving calories for the evening because that’s when you get hungry, are just some of the examples of the disordered eating-based nutrition advice promoted by “The Biggest Loser” challenge website. 

Nonsense abounds when it comes to nutritional strategy.  Who cares how many calories are in a spear of asparagus, a cup of greens or snow peas?  This info isn’t useful; it just screws with people’s minds and makes things more confusing. 

When it comes to exercise, “The Biggest Loser” challenge tells us that exercise is a matter of burning calories and fat. While exercise does burn calories – all activity does, even sitting on the couch – burning calories or fat should not be the goal of exercise.  Getting exercise should be the goal of exercise.  A philosophy of using exercise for losing weight is a fatally flawed philosophy.  I’ll repeat this point to make it clear; you should never use exercise as a means to lose or manage your weight.

This thought process of exercising to lose weight leads to people making unhealthy connections between eating and exercising.  You’ve heard this kind of thing before, “Oh I ate that piece of cake and now I have to go on the treadmill.”  Wrong. 

Here’s another myth exploded: eating desert doesn’t cause people to gain weight.  Consistent non-hunger eating makes people gain weight, consistent dieting makes people gain weight, using exercises for losing weight will contribute to weight gain, avoiding certain foods or food groups can help you to gain weight. These are all practices that are endorsed – in one way or another – through “The Biggest Loser” challenge.   

The fact that a handful of people lose weight because of fat burning exercise and change their appearance doesn’t speak to “The Biggest Loser” challenge’s efficacy as a show or as an overall approach to eating and exercising.  All the show is is well-publicized anecdotal evidence.  There’s no difference between the show and the advertisements for dietary supplements where you can read the disclaimer that tells you, “Results Not Typical.”

“The Biggest Loser” challenge embraces almost every outdated and ineffectual concept in regard to diet and exercise.  From the emphasis on a person’s appearance (and changing it), the scale, fat burning exercises for losing weight and an externally motivated eating system “The Biggest Loser” challenge does more harm than good.

Readers have left 7 comments.

No.1 Untitled

I agree we need more people exercising and doing things right and setting the proper model for lifetime fitness and health success.

Submitted by Personal Trainer scott White, Unregistered • 2008-01-23 22:40:59

No.2 Untitled

And you'd simply tell the fat people that it's ok to be overweight and diabetic. Let your kids sit on the coach eat a bag of oreos and watch their weight gain out-pace the previous generation. The solution is exercise and healthy/common sense eating will produce a fit human. Our society for so many years wouldn't tell the over weight person that they were over weight. They were led to believe it was ok to have those extra curves, varicose veins,spare tires, high blood pressure and muffin tops. Then they became diabetic and ill and dead. An epidemic nonetheless. Diet programs are the problem not eating clean or becoming aware of your calorie intake. That's called awareness and education. Physical exercise - aerobic and anaerobic are a requirement to better physical and mental health. And by the way it's not easy but it's well worth it. Maybe the "gazelle" sold on tv works for you but I had to do the physical and healthy eating program to get into shape. Good luck with your "I'm good, your good program."

Submitted by Hard work pays off, Unregistered • 2008-01-31 21:11:59

No.3 Untitled

it really is quite sad when people only accept and understand extremes. by your hysterical rant it is clear that you are not even remotely familiar with the concept of "moderation." you also have not a clue that people who have "muffin tops" and "spare tires" can be every bit as healthy - if not more so - that those who are "thin" or "ripped" and who are obsesssed with their caloric intake and exercise routines. appearance has nothing to do with health.

sad and scary, indeed.

Submitted by sal m, Unregistered • 2008-01-31 22:05:53

No.4 Untitled

why watch a show about people losing weight

Submitted by Guest User, Unregistered • 2008-02-03 16:51:34

No.5 Untitled

I think you can eat what you want. Aslong as you excercise, I dont think that food has a lot of control as per your weight is concerned. Your blood pressure is a different story.

Submitted by Guest User, Unregistered • 2008-02-05 09:11:59

No.6 Untitled

I agree with this article COMPLETELY. As someone who is recovering from a serious eating disorder, many of the shows recommendations and guidlines are the complete opposite of what I learned from the doctors and nutritionists while I was in the hospital for treatment. I think having a show that is based on teaching principles of healthy eating and exercise is a great idea though the biggest loser is not the show to watch if that is what you would like to see.

Submitted by RC, Unregistered • 2008-04-26 21:58:51

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Comment(s) :	[quote=alex]Great post, Sal. I agree with the above post. The regulation of our lives is excessive now. My brother in law and his wife (who are full of diet "tips") look at me in horror when I give my daughter a candy. I get scolded on the evils of sugar. Yeah, if that's all I feed her. In fact she gleefully eats rapini and other healthy foods. We have a healthy diet and are not partial to silly trends. Forgive me, as the parent, if I regulate my own child. [/quote]
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