How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias | Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes

[Guest guest]

http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

Driscoll

Sydney, Australia.

[Guest guest]

A panel presentation last week at ACSM's Health and Fitness Summit cited

research on the effects of reality TV about weight loss on respondents. 57% said

the programs have influenced their eating habits and 48% said the shows

influenced their exercise behavior. The percentages were dramatically higher

among obese respondents (72%/73% respectively). BL has spawned grassroots

spinoffs of the idea at workplaces, communities, and other areas. The segments

portrayed on the shows are only a small part of the entire process and obviously

selected to heighten the drama and viewer involvement. In addition, Tara Costa

gave a keynote address about her experience on BL and " living a new lifestyle "

(from the title of the presentation). Most informative!

We don't know what 40-minute segment (or combination of segments to equal 40

minutes) of the show was used to conduct the research by Domoff et al. There is

room for both perspectives regarding the show: some positive elements and some

negative elements. One truth about BL and its clones is that they focus on

outcomes vs behavior. How about a " Biggest Mover " contest–a pedometer step

challenge?

Merrick, Ph.D.

ACSM HFS, NSCA-CPT/CSCS

Bellevue, NE

>

> http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

>

> Driscoll

> Sydney, Australia.

>

[Guest guest]

I looked in on a couple of this season's shows after reading the first posting.

I have to say that the infighting and emotional stress that cast members put on

each other, plus the over the top behavior of one of the trainers is very off

putting. If there was a message there, it was " eliminate somebody succeeding

with their weight loss because they're a threat " and " anything short of collapse

is not doing enough for dramatic weight loss " . If everybody did as this show

suggests by example, we'd have a lot more calls to 911 and have heavy folks

trying to submarine each other rather than support.

This does not look like sanity. This is not encouraging to someone who might

want to change their lifestyle - it suggests you have to have a crazy coach, and

have to be secluded from your normal life. This is not what most people can

afford to do, or realistically SHOULD DO.

You cannot keep up the nutty efforts they make on this show for LIFE.

Also, what is the rate at which former cast members regain weight? My

understanding is not all past 'winners' have kept the weight down - no matter

how carefully they select their cast - and they ARE hand selected - there are

" failures " post show.....

How large a group was the ACSM studying? and of the folks who were obese, how

many actually did anything after their " positive response " to the broadcast? Did

they go out and hire trainers, and diet help? How many succeeded in extreme

weight loss and maintained it?

Also it is my understanding that " Jillian " from the earlier years of this show

is being sued? Something about unhealthy supplements she was helping to sell?

I think the original posting is much closer to the mark. Sizism or what you wish

to call it certainly is around and doing very well in American society. The show

is helping to make the rift worse.

One example - I was in a dress shop recently and a lady who appeared to be very

high strung, had almost no body with bones protruding (and zero bodyfat from the

appearance) had tried on a size 0 and then demanded to know from the lady

assisting her whether this had been " stretched out by someone fat " . After the

shop lady recovered from the phrasing of the question - I mean, how fat are you

at size 0 or2 or ? - she pointed out that only 1 other lady had tried the dress

on and she believed it was still quite proper to the size. She also said if this

lady wished, they would order her one and if necessary, alter it to meet her

needs....inward.

Fat at size 0?? what sort of mental process or lack does it take to arrive

THERE?

Second example - years ago, I was competing on the platform. One of the judges

was a lightweight lifter who threw nothing but red lights at all the ladies in

my flight in the squat and after 2 rounds, they removed her. Why? Because she

didn't like FAT people. Even said it outright in the hall at the break. The

flight had been the 82.5, 90 kg, and shw. Luckily the other 2 judges had passed

most of the lifts and nobody bombed out because of her, but still....sigh.

Third - as a massage therapist, I work with all sizes. I've heard coworkers and

gals I went to school with proclaim that they didn't want to work on anybody who

was fat... (some made it " old and fat " ).

BBC America did a show where they took a couple of ladies and pointedly put them

through mental and physical evals to be sure they were up to the study, then had

them fight their way down to a very small size from a normal weight by any means

possible. One (a journalist) had a sort of breakdown and had to be removed from

the study..... One of the participants ate her way back to her normal weight

afterward but nearly broke her relationship during the whole thing. They showed

the methods the participants used. They also detailed and followed up after the

study to show what happened. The journalist was still struggling with the

behaviors that had caused her to quit the study. They were all hell to be

around, miserable, and I think a far more realistic portrayal of what does go on

with models and others who intentionally force weight loss down to a tiny size

really have to do to get there and maintain it.

The use of the word " loser " in that title of the show is appropriate - for it's

meant to point out how bad these folks' lives are for simply being fat. From

what they show of the audition tapes, you have to be desperate enough to degrade

YOURSELF on there before they allow you in.

Trying to sell folks on a sane idea of walking more steps vs. the glory of

loserdom is probably not going to work. By the way - I've seen very overweight

ER nurses who had pedometers on and did about 10,000 steps a day....just how

much further do they need to walk on tired legs before their weight moves?

Bodies acclimate to the stresses we put them under and well, I'm not convinced

the one guy I saw (about 6'5 " and 400ish?) is going to lose significant weight

from his pedometer clicking over daily. Sigh. He was a very good nurse by the

way - very gentle and good manner with the gal he was working on.

One size never did fit all. It's the biggest loser myth.

The Phantom

aka Schaefer, CMT/RMT, competing powerlifter

Denver, Colorado USA

Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias | Dr.

Sharma's Obesity Notes

A panel presentation last week at ACSM's Health and Fitness Summit cited

research on the effects of reality TV about weight loss on respondents. 57% said

the programs have influenced their eating habits and 48% said the shows

influenced their exercise behavior. The percentages were dramatically higher

among obese respondents (72%/73% respectively). BL has spawned grassroots

spinoffs of the idea at workplaces, communities, and other areas. The segments

portrayed on the shows are only a small part of the entire process and obviously

selected to heighten the drama and viewer involvement. In addition, Tara Costa

gave a keynote address about her experience on BL and " living a new lifestyle "

(from the title of the presentation). Most informative!

We don't know what 40-minute segment (or combination of segments to equal 40

minutes) of the show was used to conduct the research by Domoff et al. There is

room for both perspectives regarding the show: some positive elements and some

negative elements. One truth about BL and its clones is that they focus on

outcomes vs behavior. How about a " Biggest Mover " contest–a pedometer step

challenge?

Merrick, Ph.D.

ACSM HFS, NSCA-CPT/CSCS

Bellevue, NE

>

> http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

>

> Driscoll

> Sydney, Australia.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I wanted to correct a misconception in your post.

ACSM did not perform the study. The panel discussion cited results from the

following:

http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/healthcare/tr_poll_half_americans_b\

elieve_shows_positive

If you read that article, the results are from those who are regular viewers of

such programs. Not people who look in on one or two episodes.

Also, one panelist, a nutrition faculty member, said she had been watching the

program since season 3, waiting for someone on the show to say something she

took issue with from a nutrition standpoint. So far, nothing has come up. She

noted that this season, the dietitian seems to be on camera; a person in the

discussion audience said that she knew they had always had a dietitian behind

the scenes on the show, even though the trainers dispensed the nutrition advice

on camera.

Sure, the show can be the top and definitely unrealistic; that's why it's on

TV--it's not a documentary. However, a person who chooses to take the term

" loser " in the title as before the fact insult is probably not quite ready to

change.

I agree that the media and the medical industry is way too focused on weight and

" fatness " and not about the inactivity epidemic we have. The bottom line for

death and disease (mortality and morbidity in the epidemiology language) really

is about fitness, fitness at any weight.

Merrick, Ph.D.

Bellevue, NE

> >

> > http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

> >

> > Driscoll

> > Sydney, Australia.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I wanted to correct a misconception in your post.

ACSM did not perform the study. The panel discussion cited results from the

following:

http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/healthcare/tr_poll_half_americans_b\

elieve_shows_positive

If you read that article, the results are from those who are regular viewers of

such programs. Not people who look in on one or two episodes.

Also, one panelist, a nutrition faculty member, said she had been watching the

program since season 3, waiting for someone on the show to say something she

took issue with from a nutrition standpoint. So far, nothing has come up. She

noted that this season, the dietitian seems to be on camera; a person in the

discussion audience said that she knew they had always had a dietitian behind

the scenes on the show, even though the trainers dispensed the nutrition advice

on camera.

Sure, the show can be the top and definitely unrealistic; that's why it's on

TV--it's not a documentary. However, a person who chooses to take the term

" loser " in the title as before the fact insult is probably not quite ready to

change.

I agree that the media and the medical industry is way too focused on weight and

" fatness " and not about the inactivity epidemic we have. The bottom line for

death and disease (mortality and morbidity in the epidemiology language) really

is about fitness, fitness at any weight.

Merrick, Ph.D.

Bellevue, NE

> >

> > http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

> >

> > Driscoll

> > Sydney, Australia.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I wanted to correct a misconception in your post.

ACSM did not perform the study. The panel discussion cited results from the

following:

http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/healthcare/tr_poll_half_americans_b\

elieve_shows_positive

If you read that article, the results are from those who are regular viewers of

such programs. Not people who look in on one or two episodes.

Also, one panelist, a nutrition faculty member, said she had been watching the

program since season 3, waiting for someone on the show to say something she

took issue with from a nutrition standpoint. So far, nothing has come up. She

noted that this season, the dietitian seems to be on camera; a person in the

discussion audience said that she knew they had always had a dietitian behind

the scenes on the show, even though the trainers dispensed the nutrition advice

on camera.

Sure, the show can be the top and definitely unrealistic; that's why it's on

TV--it's not a documentary. However, a person who chooses to take the term

" loser " in the title as before the fact insult is probably not quite ready to

change.

I agree that the media and the medical industry is way too focused on weight and

" fatness " and not about the inactivity epidemic we have. The bottom line for

death and disease (mortality and morbidity in the epidemiology language) really

is about fitness, fitness at any weight.

Merrick, Ph.D.

Bellevue, NE

> >

> > http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

> >

> > Driscoll

> > Sydney, Australia.

[Guest guest]

The biggest loser is a game show.

The physical competitions that the biggest loser contestants do, while fun to

watch, are not really great forms of exercise and some of those physical

competitions cause injury. Bob and Jillian are healthy but I don't want to look

like either one of them. Besides I've never even once seen Bob use a barbell or

dumbbell. I've never done any of the non traditional exercises that the

trainers have the contestants do. I don't kick box. I don't use a heavy bag or

speed bag. I don't pull any ropes. I don't use a landmine. All I really do

for exercise are some dumbbell and barbell exercises and some walking. I don't

workout twice a day or exercise after every meal. The way the show is shown on

TV, every time the contestants eat they go workout about an hour later. Plus

these contestants do so much cardio. They are doing cardio twice a day and

cardio in every workout session. Plus, if you need a trainer to yell at you

that much and push you that much to exercise you aren't going to be motivated to

exercise on your own. A lot of people don't have access to a lot of the

equipment on the Biggest Loser. Most people really only have access to what's

in their local gym which is usually barbells, dumbbells, weight training

machines, and cardio machines.

Edwin Freeman, Jr.

San Francisco, USA

Re: Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias |

Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes

I looked in on a couple of this season's shows after reading the first posting.

I have to say that the infighting and emotional stress that cast members put on

each other, plus the over the top behavior of one of the trainers is very off

putting. If there was a message there, it was " eliminate somebody succeeding

with their weight loss because they're a threat " and " anything short of collapse

is not doing enough for dramatic weight loss " . If everybody did as this show

suggests by example, we'd have a lot more calls to 911 and have heavy folks

trying to submarine each other rather than support.

This does not look like sanity. This is not encouraging to someone who might

want to change their lifestyle - it suggests you have to have a crazy coach, and

have to be secluded from your normal life. This is not what most people can

afford to do, or realistically SHOULD DO.

You cannot keep up the nutty efforts they make on this show for LIFE.

Also, what is the rate at which former cast members regain weight? My

understanding is not all past 'winners' have kept the weight down - no matter

how carefully they select their cast - and they ARE hand selected - there are

" failures " post show.....

How large a group was the ACSM studying? and of the folks who were obese, how

many actually did anything after their " positive response " to the broadcast? Did

they go out and hire trainers, and diet help? How many succeeded in extreme

weight loss and maintained it?

Also it is my understanding that " Jillian " from the earlier years of this show

is being sued? Something about unhealthy supplements she was helping to sell?

I think the original posting is much closer to the mark. Sizism or what you wish

to call it certainly is around and doing very well in American society. The show

is helping to make the rift worse.

One example - I was in a dress shop recently and a lady who appeared to be very

high strung, had almost no body with bones protruding (and zero bodyfat from the

appearance) had tried on a size 0 and then demanded to know from the lady

assisting her whether this had been " stretched out by someone fat " . After the

shop lady recovered from the phrasing of the question - I mean, how fat are you

at size 0 or2 or ? - she pointed out that only 1 other lady had tried the dress

on and she believed it was still quite proper to the size. She also said if this

lady wished, they would order her one and if necessary, alter it to meet her

needs....inward.

Fat at size 0?? what sort of mental process or lack does it take to arrive

THERE?

Second example - years ago, I was competing on the platform. One of the judges

was a lightweight lifter who threw nothing but red lights at all the ladies in

my flight in the squat and after 2 rounds, they removed her. Why? Because she

didn't like FAT people. Even said it outright in the hall at the break. The

flight had been the 82.5, 90 kg, and shw. Luckily the other 2 judges had passed

most of the lifts and nobody bombed out because of her, but still....sigh.

Third - as a massage therapist, I work with all sizes. I've heard coworkers and

gals I went to school with proclaim that they didn't want to work on anybody who

was fat... (some made it " old and fat " ).

BBC America did a show where they took a couple of ladies and pointedly put them

through mental and physical evals to be sure they were up to the study, then had

them fight their way down to a very small size from a normal weight by any means

possible. One (a journalist) had a sort of breakdown and had to be removed from

the study..... One of the participants ate her way back to her normal weight

afterward but nearly broke her relationship during the whole thing. They showed

the methods the participants used. They also detailed and followed up after the

study to show what happened. The journalist was still struggling with the

behaviors that had caused her to quit the study. They were all hell to be

around, miserable, and I think a far more realistic portrayal of what does go on

with models and others who intentionally force weight loss down to a tiny size

really have to do to get there and maintain it.

The use of the word " loser " in that title of the show is appropriate - for it's

meant to point out how bad these folks' lives are for simply being fat. From

what they show of the audition tapes, you have to be desperate enough to degrade

YOURSELF on there before they allow you in.

Trying to sell folks on a sane idea of walking more steps vs. the glory of

loserdom is probably not going to work. By the way - I've seen very overweight

ER nurses who had pedometers on and did about 10,000 steps a day....just how

much further do they need to walk on tired legs before their weight moves?

Bodies acclimate to the stresses we put them under and well, I'm not convinced

the one guy I saw (about 6'5 " and 400ish?) is going to lose significant weight

from his pedometer clicking over daily. Sigh. He was a very good nurse by the

way - very gentle and good manner with the gal he was working on.

One size never did fit all. It's the biggest loser myth.

The Phantom

aka Schaefer, CMT/RMT, competing powerlifter

Denver, Colorado USA

Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias | Dr.

Sharma's Obesity Notes

A panel presentation last week at ACSM's Health and Fitness Summit cited

research on the effects of reality TV about weight loss on respondents. 57% said

the programs have influenced their eating habits and 48% said the shows

influenced their exercise behavior. The percentages were dramatically higher

among obese respondents (72%/73% respectively). BL has spawned grassroots

spinoffs of the idea at workplaces, communities, and other areas. The segments

portrayed on the shows are only a small part of the entire process and obviously

selected to heighten the drama and viewer involvement. In addition, Tara Costa

gave a keynote address about her experience on BL and " living a new lifestyle "

(from the title of the presentation). Most informative!

We don't know what 40-minute segment (or combination of segments to equal 40

minutes) of the show was used to conduct the research by Domoff et al. There is

room for both perspectives regarding the show: some positive elements and some

negative elements. One truth about BL and its clones is that they focus on

outcomes vs behavior. How about a " Biggest Mover " contest–a pedometer step

challenge?

Merrick, Ph.D.

ACSM HFS, NSCA-CPT/CSCS

Bellevue, NE

>

> http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

>

> Driscoll

> Sydney, Australia.

>

[Guest guest]

The biggest loser is a game show.

The physical competitions that the biggest loser contestants do, while fun to

watch, are not really great forms of exercise and some of those physical

competitions cause injury. Bob and Jillian are healthy but I don't want to look

like either one of them. Besides I've never even once seen Bob use a barbell or

dumbbell. I've never done any of the non traditional exercises that the

trainers have the contestants do. I don't kick box. I don't use a heavy bag or

speed bag. I don't pull any ropes. I don't use a landmine. All I really do

for exercise are some dumbbell and barbell exercises and some walking. I don't

workout twice a day or exercise after every meal. The way the show is shown on

TV, every time the contestants eat they go workout about an hour later. Plus

these contestants do so much cardio. They are doing cardio twice a day and

cardio in every workout session. Plus, if you need a trainer to yell at you

that much and push you that much to exercise you aren't going to be motivated to

exercise on your own. A lot of people don't have access to a lot of the

equipment on the Biggest Loser. Most people really only have access to what's

in their local gym which is usually barbells, dumbbells, weight training

machines, and cardio machines.

Edwin Freeman, Jr.

San Francisco, USA

Re: Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias |

Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes

I looked in on a couple of this season's shows after reading the first posting.

I have to say that the infighting and emotional stress that cast members put on

each other, plus the over the top behavior of one of the trainers is very off

putting. If there was a message there, it was " eliminate somebody succeeding

with their weight loss because they're a threat " and " anything short of collapse

is not doing enough for dramatic weight loss " . If everybody did as this show

suggests by example, we'd have a lot more calls to 911 and have heavy folks

trying to submarine each other rather than support.

This does not look like sanity. This is not encouraging to someone who might

want to change their lifestyle - it suggests you have to have a crazy coach, and

have to be secluded from your normal life. This is not what most people can

afford to do, or realistically SHOULD DO.

You cannot keep up the nutty efforts they make on this show for LIFE.

Also, what is the rate at which former cast members regain weight? My

understanding is not all past 'winners' have kept the weight down - no matter

how carefully they select their cast - and they ARE hand selected - there are

" failures " post show.....

How large a group was the ACSM studying? and of the folks who were obese, how

many actually did anything after their " positive response " to the broadcast? Did

they go out and hire trainers, and diet help? How many succeeded in extreme

weight loss and maintained it?

Also it is my understanding that " Jillian " from the earlier years of this show

is being sued? Something about unhealthy supplements she was helping to sell?

I think the original posting is much closer to the mark. Sizism or what you wish

to call it certainly is around and doing very well in American society. The show

is helping to make the rift worse.

One example - I was in a dress shop recently and a lady who appeared to be very

high strung, had almost no body with bones protruding (and zero bodyfat from the

appearance) had tried on a size 0 and then demanded to know from the lady

assisting her whether this had been " stretched out by someone fat " . After the

shop lady recovered from the phrasing of the question - I mean, how fat are you

at size 0 or2 or ? - she pointed out that only 1 other lady had tried the dress

on and she believed it was still quite proper to the size. She also said if this

lady wished, they would order her one and if necessary, alter it to meet her

needs....inward.

Fat at size 0?? what sort of mental process or lack does it take to arrive

THERE?

Second example - years ago, I was competing on the platform. One of the judges

was a lightweight lifter who threw nothing but red lights at all the ladies in

my flight in the squat and after 2 rounds, they removed her. Why? Because she

didn't like FAT people. Even said it outright in the hall at the break. The

flight had been the 82.5, 90 kg, and shw. Luckily the other 2 judges had passed

most of the lifts and nobody bombed out because of her, but still....sigh.

Third - as a massage therapist, I work with all sizes. I've heard coworkers and

gals I went to school with proclaim that they didn't want to work on anybody who

was fat... (some made it " old and fat " ).

BBC America did a show where they took a couple of ladies and pointedly put them

through mental and physical evals to be sure they were up to the study, then had

them fight their way down to a very small size from a normal weight by any means

possible. One (a journalist) had a sort of breakdown and had to be removed from

the study..... One of the participants ate her way back to her normal weight

afterward but nearly broke her relationship during the whole thing. They showed

the methods the participants used. They also detailed and followed up after the

study to show what happened. The journalist was still struggling with the

behaviors that had caused her to quit the study. They were all hell to be

around, miserable, and I think a far more realistic portrayal of what does go on

with models and others who intentionally force weight loss down to a tiny size

really have to do to get there and maintain it.

The use of the word " loser " in that title of the show is appropriate - for it's

meant to point out how bad these folks' lives are for simply being fat. From

what they show of the audition tapes, you have to be desperate enough to degrade

YOURSELF on there before they allow you in.

Trying to sell folks on a sane idea of walking more steps vs. the glory of

loserdom is probably not going to work. By the way - I've seen very overweight

ER nurses who had pedometers on and did about 10,000 steps a day....just how

much further do they need to walk on tired legs before their weight moves?

Bodies acclimate to the stresses we put them under and well, I'm not convinced

the one guy I saw (about 6'5 " and 400ish?) is going to lose significant weight

from his pedometer clicking over daily. Sigh. He was a very good nurse by the

way - very gentle and good manner with the gal he was working on.

One size never did fit all. It's the biggest loser myth.

The Phantom

aka Schaefer, CMT/RMT, competing powerlifter

Denver, Colorado USA

Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias | Dr.

Sharma's Obesity Notes

A panel presentation last week at ACSM's Health and Fitness Summit cited

research on the effects of reality TV about weight loss on respondents. 57% said

the programs have influenced their eating habits and 48% said the shows

influenced their exercise behavior. The percentages were dramatically higher

among obese respondents (72%/73% respectively). BL has spawned grassroots

spinoffs of the idea at workplaces, communities, and other areas. The segments

portrayed on the shows are only a small part of the entire process and obviously

selected to heighten the drama and viewer involvement. In addition, Tara Costa

gave a keynote address about her experience on BL and " living a new lifestyle "

(from the title of the presentation). Most informative!

We don't know what 40-minute segment (or combination of segments to equal 40

minutes) of the show was used to conduct the research by Domoff et al. There is

room for both perspectives regarding the show: some positive elements and some

negative elements. One truth about BL and its clones is that they focus on

outcomes vs behavior. How about a " Biggest Mover " contest–a pedometer step

challenge?

Merrick, Ph.D.

ACSM HFS, NSCA-CPT/CSCS

Bellevue, NE

>

> http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

>

> Driscoll

> Sydney, Australia.

>

[Guest guest]

The biggest loser is a game show.

The physical competitions that the biggest loser contestants do, while fun to

watch, are not really great forms of exercise and some of those physical

competitions cause injury. Bob and Jillian are healthy but I don't want to look

like either one of them. Besides I've never even once seen Bob use a barbell or

dumbbell. I've never done any of the non traditional exercises that the

trainers have the contestants do. I don't kick box. I don't use a heavy bag or

speed bag. I don't pull any ropes. I don't use a landmine. All I really do

for exercise are some dumbbell and barbell exercises and some walking. I don't

workout twice a day or exercise after every meal. The way the show is shown on

TV, every time the contestants eat they go workout about an hour later. Plus

these contestants do so much cardio. They are doing cardio twice a day and

cardio in every workout session. Plus, if you need a trainer to yell at you

that much and push you that much to exercise you aren't going to be motivated to

exercise on your own. A lot of people don't have access to a lot of the

equipment on the Biggest Loser. Most people really only have access to what's

in their local gym which is usually barbells, dumbbells, weight training

machines, and cardio machines.

Edwin Freeman, Jr.

San Francisco, USA

Re: Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias |

Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes

I looked in on a couple of this season's shows after reading the first posting.

I have to say that the infighting and emotional stress that cast members put on

each other, plus the over the top behavior of one of the trainers is very off

putting. If there was a message there, it was " eliminate somebody succeeding

with their weight loss because they're a threat " and " anything short of collapse

is not doing enough for dramatic weight loss " . If everybody did as this show

suggests by example, we'd have a lot more calls to 911 and have heavy folks

trying to submarine each other rather than support.

This does not look like sanity. This is not encouraging to someone who might

want to change their lifestyle - it suggests you have to have a crazy coach, and

have to be secluded from your normal life. This is not what most people can

afford to do, or realistically SHOULD DO.

You cannot keep up the nutty efforts they make on this show for LIFE.

Also, what is the rate at which former cast members regain weight? My

understanding is not all past 'winners' have kept the weight down - no matter

how carefully they select their cast - and they ARE hand selected - there are

" failures " post show.....

How large a group was the ACSM studying? and of the folks who were obese, how

many actually did anything after their " positive response " to the broadcast? Did

they go out and hire trainers, and diet help? How many succeeded in extreme

weight loss and maintained it?

Also it is my understanding that " Jillian " from the earlier years of this show

is being sued? Something about unhealthy supplements she was helping to sell?

I think the original posting is much closer to the mark. Sizism or what you wish

to call it certainly is around and doing very well in American society. The show

is helping to make the rift worse.

One example - I was in a dress shop recently and a lady who appeared to be very

high strung, had almost no body with bones protruding (and zero bodyfat from the

appearance) had tried on a size 0 and then demanded to know from the lady

assisting her whether this had been " stretched out by someone fat " . After the

shop lady recovered from the phrasing of the question - I mean, how fat are you

at size 0 or2 or ? - she pointed out that only 1 other lady had tried the dress

on and she believed it was still quite proper to the size. She also said if this

lady wished, they would order her one and if necessary, alter it to meet her

needs....inward.

Fat at size 0?? what sort of mental process or lack does it take to arrive

THERE?

Second example - years ago, I was competing on the platform. One of the judges

was a lightweight lifter who threw nothing but red lights at all the ladies in

my flight in the squat and after 2 rounds, they removed her. Why? Because she

didn't like FAT people. Even said it outright in the hall at the break. The

flight had been the 82.5, 90 kg, and shw. Luckily the other 2 judges had passed

most of the lifts and nobody bombed out because of her, but still....sigh.

Third - as a massage therapist, I work with all sizes. I've heard coworkers and

gals I went to school with proclaim that they didn't want to work on anybody who

was fat... (some made it " old and fat " ).

BBC America did a show where they took a couple of ladies and pointedly put them

through mental and physical evals to be sure they were up to the study, then had

them fight their way down to a very small size from a normal weight by any means

possible. One (a journalist) had a sort of breakdown and had to be removed from

the study..... One of the participants ate her way back to her normal weight

afterward but nearly broke her relationship during the whole thing. They showed

the methods the participants used. They also detailed and followed up after the

study to show what happened. The journalist was still struggling with the

behaviors that had caused her to quit the study. They were all hell to be

around, miserable, and I think a far more realistic portrayal of what does go on

with models and others who intentionally force weight loss down to a tiny size

really have to do to get there and maintain it.

The use of the word " loser " in that title of the show is appropriate - for it's

meant to point out how bad these folks' lives are for simply being fat. From

what they show of the audition tapes, you have to be desperate enough to degrade

YOURSELF on there before they allow you in.

Trying to sell folks on a sane idea of walking more steps vs. the glory of

loserdom is probably not going to work. By the way - I've seen very overweight

ER nurses who had pedometers on and did about 10,000 steps a day....just how

much further do they need to walk on tired legs before their weight moves?

Bodies acclimate to the stresses we put them under and well, I'm not convinced

the one guy I saw (about 6'5 " and 400ish?) is going to lose significant weight

from his pedometer clicking over daily. Sigh. He was a very good nurse by the

way - very gentle and good manner with the gal he was working on.

One size never did fit all. It's the biggest loser myth.

The Phantom

aka Schaefer, CMT/RMT, competing powerlifter

Denver, Colorado USA

Re: How The Biggest Loser Promotes Weight Bias | Dr.

Sharma's Obesity Notes

A panel presentation last week at ACSM's Health and Fitness Summit cited

research on the effects of reality TV about weight loss on respondents. 57% said

the programs have influenced their eating habits and 48% said the shows

influenced their exercise behavior. The percentages were dramatically higher

among obese respondents (72%/73% respectively). BL has spawned grassroots

spinoffs of the idea at workplaces, communities, and other areas. The segments

portrayed on the shows are only a small part of the entire process and obviously

selected to heighten the drama and viewer involvement. In addition, Tara Costa

gave a keynote address about her experience on BL and " living a new lifestyle "

(from the title of the presentation). Most informative!

We don't know what 40-minute segment (or combination of segments to equal 40

minutes) of the show was used to conduct the research by Domoff et al. There is

room for both perspectives regarding the show: some positive elements and some

negative elements. One truth about BL and its clones is that they focus on

outcomes vs behavior. How about a " Biggest Mover " contest–a pedometer step

challenge?

Merrick, Ph.D.

ACSM HFS, NSCA-CPT/CSCS

Bellevue, NE

>

> http://www.drsharma.ca/how-the-biggest-loser-promotes-weight-bias.html

>

> Driscoll

> Sydney, Australia.

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry, that should have read " the show can be OVER the top " (I missed saying

" over " in my original below).

Merrick, Ph.D.

Bellevue, NE

>

> Hi ,

>

> I wanted to correct a misconception in your post.

>

> ACSM did not perform the study. The panel discussion cited results from the

following:

>

http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/healthcare/tr_poll_half_americans_b\

elieve_shows_positive

>

> If you read that article, the results are from those who are regular viewers

of such programs. Not people who look in on one or two episodes.

>

> Also, one panelist, a nutrition faculty member, said she had been watching the

program since season 3, waiting for someone on the show to say something she

took issue with from a nutrition standpoint. So far, nothing has come up. She

noted that this season, the dietitian seems to be on camera; a person in the

discussion audience said that she knew they had always had a dietitian behind

the scenes on the show, even though the trainers dispensed the nutrition advice

on camera.

>

> Sure, the show can be the top and definitely unrealistic; that's why it's on

TV--it's not a documentary. However, a person who chooses to take the term

" loser " in the title as before the fact insult is probably not quite ready to

change.

>

> I agree that the media and the medical industry is way too focused on weight

and " fatness " and not about the inactivity epidemic we have. The bottom line for

death and disease (mortality and morbidity in the epidemiology language) really

is about fitness, fitness at any weight.

>

> Merrick, Ph.D.

> Bellevue, NE

> (material deleted)

[Guest guest]

Sorry, that should have read " the show can be OVER the top " (I missed saying

" over " in my original below).

Merrick, Ph.D.

Bellevue, NE

>

> Hi ,

>

> I wanted to correct a misconception in your post.

>

> ACSM did not perform the study. The panel discussion cited results from the

following:

>

http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/healthcare/tr_poll_half_americans_b\

elieve_shows_positive

>

> If you read that article, the results are from those who are regular viewers

of such programs. Not people who look in on one or two episodes.

>

> Also, one panelist, a nutrition faculty member, said she had been watching the

program since season 3, waiting for someone on the show to say something she

took issue with from a nutrition standpoint. So far, nothing has come up. She

noted that this season, the dietitian seems to be on camera; a person in the

discussion audience said that she knew they had always had a dietitian behind

the scenes on the show, even though the trainers dispensed the nutrition advice

on camera.

>

> Sure, the show can be the top and definitely unrealistic; that's why it's on

TV--it's not a documentary. However, a person who chooses to take the term

" loser " in the title as before the fact insult is probably not quite ready to

change.

>

> I agree that the media and the medical industry is way too focused on weight

and " fatness " and not about the inactivity epidemic we have. The bottom line for

death and disease (mortality and morbidity in the epidemiology language) really

is about fitness, fitness at any weight.

>

> Merrick, Ph.D.

> Bellevue, NE

> (material deleted)

[Guest guest]

Sorry, that should have read " the show can be OVER the top " (I missed saying

" over " in my original below).

Merrick, Ph.D.

Bellevue, NE

>

> Hi ,

>

> I wanted to correct a misconception in your post.

>

> ACSM did not perform the study. The panel discussion cited results from the

following:

>

http://thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/healthcare/tr_poll_half_americans_b\

elieve_shows_positive

>

> If you read that article, the results are from those who are regular viewers

of such programs. Not people who look in on one or two episodes.

>

> Also, one panelist, a nutrition faculty member, said she had been watching the

program since season 3, waiting for someone on the show to say something she

took issue with from a nutrition standpoint. So far, nothing has come up. She

noted that this season, the dietitian seems to be on camera; a person in the

discussion audience said that she knew they had always had a dietitian behind

the scenes on the show, even though the trainers dispensed the nutrition advice

on camera.

>

> Sure, the show can be the top and definitely unrealistic; that's why it's on

TV--it's not a documentary. However, a person who chooses to take the term

" loser " in the title as before the fact insult is probably not quite ready to

change.

>

> I agree that the media and the medical industry is way too focused on weight

and " fatness " and not about the inactivity epidemic we have. The bottom line for

death and disease (mortality and morbidity in the epidemiology language) really

is about fitness, fitness at any weight.

>

> Merrick, Ph.D.

> Bellevue, NE

> (material deleted)