The Biggest Loser was a disgusting TV show

[AnxiousApocalypse]

Just been watching Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser on Netflix. Why do people hate fat people like me so much? Someone nearly died while doing the show. Obese people get so much hate and ridicule in society and the people behind The Biggest Loser took advantage of the contestants' desperation. It was just another chance for people to make fun of fat people and profit off of fat-shaming.

I watched the documentary and found it a bit strange how they showed them with their tops off on the scales at the beginning, but having lost weight they made them pop a top on. For the sake of dignity, pop on a top. Don't want to see the reality of loose skin after losing a significant amount of weight in a short space of time.

Those trainers are odious … the producers are almost worse (we didn’t have the money for an aftercare … what bullshit)

As for the Dr, can’t work him out at all

I think it's because smoking was for many years seen as "cool", and many intellectuals were photographed or filmed smoking.

But being fat - especially for women - hasn't been seen as cool or trendy or sexy or anything positive since the Second World War.

The reason naturally slim people (and my family is full of them!) sneer at weight loss jabs is because (whether they admit it or not) in their heart they believe that fat people SHOULD be punished for being that way, or for getting that way. The same people who believe that fatties should exercise self control in the face of an obesegenic society would not take a recovering alcoholic to a pub nor expect someone struggling to give up smoking to tolerate sitting in a room full of tobacco smoke without giving in to temptation.

nothing else it showed that you could do these things

@RobynRB but TBL didn't show that because no normal.people would be able to spend 8 hours a day for 6 months in the gym and (presumably) have their food prepared/monitored for them

i love shows like this but almost cheering the person on- doesn’t have to be weight loss, I also love the 100 and sas who dares wins etc, love seeing people grow and progress.

however, this documentary shows how much people were exploited. I used to love getting the ideas for workouts and saw it as if they can do it what’s my excuse sort of thing

I’d never heard of The Biggest Loser but I’m watching Fit for TV now. It’s really shocking.

Actually the judges weren't even bloody kind to her after she proved herself. I've never forgotten seeing this clip and never thought of Amanda Holden as being anything other than an utter bitch ever since.

Surely that's not real? They dressed up as Susan Boyle and viciously mocked her? I've never seen that but I'm really shocked.

Yes the audience were awful too. But I think there’s perhaps a bit more culpability from the show makers and presenters, they are essentially the ring leaders in that situation. In any case it definitely made the penny drop for me about how exploitative it all was.

Christ.

It is, I vividly remember watching it live at the time as back then I quite liked both Alan and Amanda but that changed in a instant.

Over the years I've seen AH say quite a few times how much she loves Susan & how proud of her she is and that clip always comes back to me. Unfortunately back then social media was still in it's infancy, she'd certainly get a backlash if it happened now.

Oh god, definitely. In fact, I'm bingeing old (I think) episodes of Come Dine with Me and frankly amazed at some of the contestants. I'm sure they must be plants. Two women, both in their 40s, frankly sexually harassing male contestants, one got to the point of saying 'I'm not comfortable with this' as she pushed him onto the bed to use a head massager on him. She dubbed herself (or did the producers?) a 'cougar', spoke about herself in the 3rd person and came across as an absolute pest 'I'm going to make my move tonight' etc, despite the man in question being almost 20 years younger and blatantly disinterested. I do wonder if the producers have deliberately recruited someone with mh issues or have massively encouraged her to act in an over the top manner.

I think you're right, the show makers are hugely at fault and exploit contestants, there's no doubt.

What was that show where they showed families what their overweight kids would look like as adults? They didn't let the children in the room when they showed the parents but presumably they saw it when the show came out, as must have a lot of their classmates.

I have managed to watch no reality tv, I can’t stand any of it, the bits I have seen on gogglebox (I know, that’s reality, but not the same) are awful, people are made to look thick, stupid, it’s just awful.

Honey, We’re Killing The Kids?

Thanks, that sounds interesting. The BBC did a similar podcast series https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0c5w0zm

Interesting thread.

I watched a few episodes of TBL back in the day but couldn't get into it as it did seem exploitative. I don't think something like weightloss should be presented as a competitive exercise.

Trinny and Susannah, and the Gok Wan programmes I did watch, but interestingly it was at a period in my life when I was married to a man who thought I looked best in jeans and a jumper, and I think I was just desperate for something that fed my inner creativity and interest in fashion. After my divorce I ended up fully embracing my own style, which is broadly alternative. I did learn alot about the art of layering though.

Other than that I haven't bothered with most reality shows, certainly not things like Big Brother or Love Island as the whole thing makes me squirm.

One that also got me was Derren Browne show where a young chap who'd allegedly list his direction in life was allegedly thrust into an unexpected apocalyptic disaster scenario. I have series questions about that, and whether it really did improve his life. I'd be livid if my family and friends set me up for something like that, and it would break my trust in them hugely, regardless of their motives.

All that said, as I'm struggling with a deluge of dead people's stuff and grief I have had time to process, I did consider applying for "Sort Your Life Out" just for the resources to do just that. But honestly I don't think I'd have the balls and risk the exposure and possible snarky backlash, as a few people have already intimated I'm wallowing in five significant losses in five years, three this year. Which I'm trying not to. It's just a bit overwhelming And I'm not really keen on crying on camera.

Overall I agree with those posters who've referenced freak shows and public hangings etc. And I feel more like that the older I get.

Does anyone remember a similar show in UK? Anne Diamond was vilified because it turns out she'd had a gastric band. She said it hadn't worked that why she went on the show. The newspapers almost destroyed her. Thankfully this was before social media.

So several old contestants are talking about it now and doing q&a on SM. I’ve just watched a few.
What strikes me is they have no issues with the show. And I think the failing of the docu series is there was no balance to those who came away okay from it. Those contestants they used are the ones who always speak about it.
Suzy was just saying that all the shouting and screaming was just fake. it was all for the cameras, on non filmed workout they didn’t do it and they all knew it was fake. They knew what they had signed up for it.

I think there are issues with all reality shows, but it’s something we are stuck with now.

Just finished this today. I agree with you op, it's horrible.

I've never even heard of it until I saw it on the top 10 on Netflix.

Like a lot of reality TV, it's probably scripted, exaggerated re the shouting, fighting to create drama and "entertainment".

However, I do think the show exploited on their vulnerabilities, and I wasn't comfortable with the concept of making fun of fat people, reinforcing the stereotypes and pitting them against each other for entertainment.

That said, Danny seems to be at peace with how he is now, Olivia and Hannah both very happy too and Joelle gave her piece of mind to Bob.

Just watched this. Gosh the trainers are awful. And don't seem to regret it at all????

I watched it this evening. I’d quite like to give Jillian Michaels a kick up the arse, along with the godawful other one, and the vile TV producers.

Just foul, the lot of them.

I remember the one with the families and they aged the kids on a big TV and made them look like drug addicts because they ate frosties for breakfast or something daft like that. That was awful.