Even though I'm a fan of the show, the concept of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" has always seemed slightly flawed to me. What's to stop contestants from simply not eating? From throwing up their meals? From working out beyond exhaustion? After all, $250,000 is a lot of motivation, maybe even enough to change someone from an over-eater to an under-eater, an under-worker to an over-worker. (To be fair, the contest has various precautionary measures.)
After many successful years, the show's most recent winner might be the first to expose its potentially dangerous formula.
I didn't watch this season, but various news reports have reported that the winner, 24 year-old, 5-foot-4 Rachel Fredrickson, entered her final weigh-in at 105 pounds. (Before the finale, contestants return home for a period of time; though they're still under the show's supervision, they no longer work with their usual trainers, Bo Harper or Jillian Michaels).
After beginning the competition at 260 pounds, the former high school state swimming champion lost 60 percent of her body weight by the finale. Many believed she went too far, based on the nation's reaction on Wednesday and pictures of her final weigh-in. Her BMI (which doesn't always mean what it says it means) also indicates she's underweight.
Neither Fredrickson, NBC, nor "The Biggest Loser's" representatives have direclty addressed viewers' concerns. Instead they've released two generic statements.
"We support Rachel and all of the 'Biggest Loser' contestants who have shared their journeys over the past 15 seasons," read NBC's and "The Biggest Loser's joint statement. "We remain committed to helping contestants achieve healthy weight loss and live healthier lifestyles, and to inspiring viewers to do the same."
"My journey was about finding that confident girl again," said Fredrickson. "Little by little, challenge by challenge, that athlete came out. And it sparked inside me this feeling that I can do anything I can conceive. And I found that girl, and I'm just going to embrace her fully."
According to the Los Angeles Times, Fredrickson followed a 1,600 calorie per day diet and has felt great since dropping the weight. Her current trainer, however, hinted that perhaps she did go too far.
"Biggest Loser is a journey which has its ups and downs," the trainer said. "Please try not to look at one slice of Rachel's journey and come to broad conclusions. Rachel's health is and always has been my main concern and her journey to good health has not yet ended!!"
Harper and Michaels, whose shocked expressions upon seeing Frederickson at the finale have become evidence for her extreme weight loss, decided not to comment directly on the situation.
"Bob and I want to take a moment to congratulate all of the BL contestants on their hard work. We are not comfortable commenting on Rachel's journey because [we] weren't her trainers and weren't given an opportunity to work with her at any point. Any questions about the contestants on the Biggest Loser should be directed to the show's producers."
