MEGAN FEDORCHUK

While The Biggest Loser has built a reputation around “changing lives,” disclosures from former contestants lead readers to question whether these life changes are for the best — and unfortunately they’re not.

The Biggest Loser, a reality show where obese contestants compete by means of weight loss, has been growing in popularity ever since it premiered in 2004 .

With North American obesity rates on a steady rise, The Biggest Loser’s popularity is somewhat of a no-brainer. The production gives everyday individuals struggling with serious health conditions an opportunity to work with health and fitness professionals in the efforts of losing mass amounts of weight.

In only one short season, these contestants could rid themselves of hardship and gain the cash prize of $250,000. But perhaps the seven million weekly viewership wouldn’t be so great if said viewers were made aware of what truly goes on behind the scenes.

A recent article in the New York Post sheds some light on the situation by means of Kai Hibbard, the runner up in season three. Hibbard discusses questionable production protocol, dangerously long workouts, extreme caloric limits, unattended medical needs and verbally abusive coaching methods — the specifics are shocking.

First of all, 14 finalists are sent to a ranch — which is fitting, as they are treated like cattle. They are made to sign contracts of confidentiality, stay in their rooms at all times when not filming and cannot make any calls home. Already the entire operation is unethical, as individuals do not have the much needed support of friends or family during an extremely significant transition in their lives.

It only gets worse — often contestants do not have a lot of experience or comfort with physical fitness prior to the show. With this assumption in mind, imagine the severe shock to the system when they are thrown into five to eight hour long workouts, all the while consuming no more than 1,000 calories per day. In all other contexts, this format would be considered ludicrous and heavily discouraged. But not in showbiz and most certainly not on The Biggest Loser.

As a former fan of The Biggest Loser myself, reading Hibbard’s revelations made me sick to my stomach. How could a show that supposedly saves lives stray so far from that? Furthermore, after 16 consecutive seasons how has no one stepped up to the plate in an effort to end these real-life Hunger Games?

The answer lies in North America’s perpetual need to be entertained and big name broadcasters’ ability to make it happen — at any cost. As Hibbard points out, losing a healthy one or two pounds per week while following a nutritious diet does not make for good television. Nor does promoting long-term health, apparently.

In fact, side effects from the show’s forced extreme exercise and calorie restriction still affect Hibbard to this day. These include hair loss, irregular periods, bad knees and poor thyroid function, some of which make weight loss even more difficult to maintain.

Essentially, The Biggest Loser is doing the very opposite of what we as viewers are made to believe. The show is sacrificing 14 vulnerable contestants to the gods of entertainment in a fight to — what could actually be — the death.

I understand that a mass amount of editing can both diffuse a serious situation and fabricate new ones. However, as more and more horror stories surface, is there a chance to save future contestants and bring The Biggest Loser to justice? Would people really stop watching if they knew the truth?

Unfortunately, my gut says no. This is not an attack on the morale of North America, but simply an honest assumption. The show would not go under based on viewership alone; it would have to be by legal means. As long as The Biggest Loser can feed the nation’s belief that reality television is real, the show will live long and prosper.

It’s safe to say that I will no longer be one of the seven million weekly viewers, nor will I keep this standpoint to myself. Confinement does not count as confidentiality, verbal abuse does translate to coaching, sponsored, chemical-packed foods do not parallel nutrition and collapsing from overexertion should not be celebrated.