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Popular reality TV show, The Biggest Loser, has now started its 8th season of weight loss and inspiration. In just a few years, The Biggest Loser has touched the hearts of many with its motivating struggle of losing weight and shedding pounds off their waistline.

People who tune in to the hallmark channel every Tuesday at 7p.m anticipate health and exercise tips from the trainers, Bob and Jillian. The most significant reason however, is the witnessing of change in these contestants as they go through hurdle over hurdle of challenges. It is this that kick-starts the fire in them to lose weight and start living a healthier life.

Although The Biggest Loser has received a good reception from the viewers, it is not as popular with professional fitness coaches. According to www.health.usnews.com, an article produced by a fitness pro has outlined several reasons why The Biggest Loser is not as beneficial as one might think. The end result is counter-productive to one's weight loss goals.

The biggest problem perhaps, is the unrealistic amount of weight loss the contestants lose by a weekly basis. The amount of weight loss the contestant loses has in some instances, total up to over 20 pounds!

"Ryan Benson, 38, an actor who works for a DVD distributor in Los Angeles, lost 55 kg to win the first season in January 2005 but says he regained 14.5 kg within five days simply by drinking water." Times magazine on The Biggest Loser winner, Ryan Benson, after the final weigh-in. The contestants on the show dehydrate themselves in order to lose the most amount of weight before the final weigh-in. They have been reported to starve themselves on purpose and take diuretics to lose water weight.

Starvation and dehydration is not only notorious in its ability to negatively affect the body's function. In serious cases, these individuals suffer the possible risk of death. The effects of starvation and dehydration are short-term and unhealthy. Many people see a difference in weight loss when starving and dehydrating only to put it back on right after they resume with their normal habits.

The Biggest Loser has certainly affected the lives of many in a positive way; encouraging people to workout harder and eat healthier. Still, it is daunting as the obesity rate worldwide is higher than ever before. Has the world's efforts in weight loss failed? Could it be that the wrong habits and influence of The Biggest Loser override the positive ones? That, we will not know. Still, it is irrational to blame a reality TV show of the world's obesity problem. We can only hope that people all around the world pick up the positive benefits which The Biggest Loser offers than the negative ones.

Source:

Katherine Hobson

Why Fitness Pros Criticize 'The Biggest Loser' - On Fitness (usnews.com)

http://health.usnews.com/blogs /on-fitness/2009/09/17/why-fit ness-pros-criticize-the-bigges t-loser.html

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