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Be on the lookout for Season 3 of
The Biggest Loser
Coming in 2006
The weight race has not only become the forefront of Hollywood magazines but most recently, a headliner in reality television. NBC's reality show The Biggest Loser allows fourteen severely overweight men and women from various parts of the country to live on a secluded ranch for three months with the goal of losing weight and regaining the life he or she once had back. The weekly weigh-ins require contestants to vote off one of the two members who lost the lowest percentage of weight for that week. Though the show is designed as a competition, with one winner receiving the ultimate prize of $250,000, the game is much less cutthroat than it appears. Essentially, The Biggest Loser shows fans the struggles and successes of the contestants as they try to maintain a greater prize than money: a new body image of themselves.
Life at the ranch could not be more ideal: personal trainers, 24 hour gym access and even personal chefs to prepare healthy meals in hopes of achieving ideal weight loss. This weight loss dream is shattered by the malevolent temptation wall. The temptation wall contains brownies, cookies, chocolate and various other foods that brought the contestants weight issues in the first place. Furthermore, there is a temptation day in which the cast may choose to play some sort of game or competition and the winner can require someone else to eat some of the fattening foods or be required to eat the food as well. Critics describe these temptations as unfair enticements that should not be placed readily at the hands of those wishing to lose weight. On the contrary however, both the temptation wall and temptation days make the situation similar to the real world, as there are always desserts and cookies readily available. This idea appeals to those watching the show for inspiration, as they see that even in an ideal situation of exercise and diet, these men and women must exert will power as well. More importantly, these struggles but also successes are shown to the public as the contestants weights continue to decrease and yet...the wall remains.
In addition to weight loss, psychological healthiness remains a forefront to success at the ranch. For instance, when looking at the temptation wall again, the ability to not eat what is directly in front of a contestant increases their psychological ability to deny food. Therefore, upon returning to their "normal" lives after the ranch, the increase in mental strength and stability to a nemesis that has plagued them for much of their lives continues and transfers itself effortlessly into each of their lives. Furthermore, this inner strength again inspires fans struggling to lose weight as it shows that there are others with familiar battles. In fact, The Biggest Loser website offers a message board with over 200 responses asking the exact question: Has Biggest Loser inspired you? The first fifty responses not only describe the inspiration acquired from watching the contestants week to week but also discuss the fans' own weight loss problems, often exchanging e-mail addresses and internet screen names, in an attempt to help each other through the struggle.
This idea is best depicted on the show, as contestants eliminate one another and often cry or become emotional to lose one of their friends and ultimately, part of their support system while at the ranch. The idea that only those with a similar appearance can understand comes into effect as it shows citizens of America, a country with size 0 models and actresses displayed on television and film daily, that there are others with similar problems and if they can conquer them, it may be possible for anyone to. The importance of the possibility of weight loss is a key word as life at the ranch may be ideal but for those over 100 pounds overweight, the workouts are not. The show does not hide the fact that these individuals work out daily and though the trainers help, there are times when the players cannot withstand the mental strain of one more mile on a treadmill. Best shown as Matt (the grand prize winner) simply cannot run anymore and walks out of the gym to be alone. Though Matt essentially "quit", it was simply for one day, and his three months of hard work were not overlooked, as even after he left the ranch he continued to work out and maintain his new physique. Furthermore, all contestants that left the ranch continued their weight loss and returned to the season finale all weighing less than when the show began.
Appearance may be a driving factor, but simply the ability to regain one's life and self-esteem seem the forefront of this competition. For instance, when cast members are voted off, a refrigerator filled with cakes and sweets is turned off to symbolize their departure. Upon first glance, this idea not only defines the individuals by food but also their acceptance by food; however, the show simply continues with what the world thinks of overweight individuals: a life revolving around food. The individuals, as seen from their continued weight loss, do not want to be defined by this anymore and the light could essentially not only mean their departure from the ranch, but also their departure from such a stereotype. In addition, as cast members vote each other off, they do so by writing on a name card and placing it in a food warmer, revealing their vote by lifting the lid off. This idea expands the idea of food and weight loss within the show. All individuals on the show admit to over-eating and therefore, a weight loss show, must find a way to relate these aspects to one another. It is not as if the contestants paint each others names on cakes to show that they are voted off. Instead, the show uses ideas that both apply and affect those both on and watching the show in an attempt to relate all aspects to one another.
With the plethora of reality shows on television requiring contestants to outwit one another, The Biggest Loser provides an outlet as it depicts a competition exhibiting inspiration instead of manipulation. More importantly, it shows both networks and viewers that sex does not always sell and there are other ways to influence and affect the audience in a positive manner.