The Biggest Loser’s Big Surprise

Alright, I’ll admit it! Since blogging about my concerns with the Biggest Loser’s methods last year, I eventually succumbed to the entertainment aspect of the show and actually watched the rest of the entire season. The season finale, the ultimate climax of the show, recently aired revealing the dramatic changes contestants achieved during their stay at the ranch and at home. The show certainly delivered its shares of oos and ahhs but the most jawdropping reaction occurred when contestant Rachel Frederickson (this season’s winner) stepped out on stage revealing her shocking transformation. Rachel started the competition at 260 pounds and through the course of the show achieved a weight loss of 155 pounds. This made her finale weight a fragile 105 pounds. The show originally aired on  October 15, 2013; however this was not live at the time so she lost 59.62% of her body weight over the period of 7 months (per interview with the TODAY show). According to online sources, Rachel is 5’4” which gives her a new BMI of 18.0. A healthy BMI is recognized as 18.5-24.9. Her ideal body weight is actually around 120 pounds.

There has been an uproar on social media over her unhealthy finale appearance. To be honest, I feel bad for her. For years, Rachel has struggled with being overweight and now critics are attacking her for being too thin. The Biggest Loser is great for a multitude of reasons but it also has a dark, scary side that often doesn’t make it on camera or in the news. I have had several patients proclaim to me “I just want to lose 10 lbs in a week like the people on the Biggest Loser do.” This is one of the main reasons the show can promote unhealthy ideals about weight loss. Past contestants have come forward stating that their “weekly” weigh-ins were often never just a week.

Others have reported that they manipulated their weigh-ins by dehydrating themselves. This is a common tactic used by body builders, wrestlers and other athletes in order to make a low “weigh-in” for an event/competition.

Rachel’s story is a very common one. Sometimes when individuals begin losing weight, an obsession takes over and many people become fearful of gaining the weight back. This can lead to dangerously low caloric intake levels and patterns of over-exercising. Exercise should help make your body stronger, not break it down. Yes, cutting back on calories can help weight loss occur faster, but taking in too few of calories also presents its own set of complications. The body has unique defense mechanisms when too few calories are consumed. One of the most noticeable functions is amenorrhea ( the absence of a period) Women have a menstrual cycle because their bodies are preparing for potential conception. When a woman doesn’t have a period (in the case of low body weight), this is the body’s way of testifying that it is not in a healthy state to support the growth of another life . Women also have the increased risk of osteopenia with low body weights. Additional symptoms of prolonged low-calorie intake may include head hair loss and lanugo (growth of fine hair on body), dry skin, brittle nails, irregular heartbeats, impaired temperature regulation, constipation and even cognitive impairment.

A unique way to illustrate our caloric needs is to show where those nutrients go. Below is an illustration for the average college female and male’s needs. These are examples of baseline needs to sustain life if an individual were to sleep for 24 hours. When you factor in being awake, activities of daily living and exercise, one’s calorie needs can greatly increase.

Healthy eating can be defined many ways. I like to think of healthy eating as consuming foods that are highly nutritious for the body most of the time while still allowing for a little “fun” in food choices . Healthy eating is eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. Healthy eating is trusting your body and metabolism and knowing that you will not be punished for having a small indulgence from time to time. Before you quickly judge Rachel and her appearance on the Biggest Loser’s finale, consider the unrealistic ideals of weight loss she has been surrounded by, most notably the pressure to lose as much weight as possible with each weigh-in on the show. She will have a long journey ahead of her overcoming some of the psychological problems associated with rapid weight loss, and finding what a true healthy weight and healthy lifestyle she can maintain in the “real world”.  

Photo Credit : UsWeekly, Biggest Loser