Sunday, 20 April 2014

Why I Hate the Biggest Loser !

   I hate 'the Biggest Loser" ! I'm talking, of course, about the reality television show.
 The show's premise is that severely overweight people compete against each other for a lucrative cash prize by trying to lose the most weight over a set period of time. The competitors are divided into two teams and individually weighed at the end of each episode. The team that loses the lowest percentage of total poundage must vote to drop one of their lesser achieving members from the contest. The last person standing wins.
   The creators of this program know the T.V. market.
  • They create conflict. This makes for  drama and therefore people watch to see what happens.
  • The participants are very motivated. Large cash winnings, in this case a  cool million, will do that.
  • The show's creators use a variety of challenges to test the participants. Variety keeps things interesting and keeps the participants motivated.
    The show's creators also seemingly try to keep the contest safe.
  • Fitness Trainers guide the clients through the weight loss programs. (I do have some serious issues with the credentials and methods of these Fitness Trainers)  
  • Nutrition is emphasized as well as exercise. Nutritionists consult with each person individually.
  • Medical experts are present to provide support and in case of emergency.
   In order to survive the prime time war, a television show must attract viewers. The more the competing personalities clash, the more drama occurs. The more infighting the better! If one or more of the contestants have an onscreen meltdown, great. Watch the ratings soar!
   However this is NOT the working model that I would use when dealing with my own clients. In fact, if I saw a Fitness Trainer actually acting like a T.V. trainer I would suggest that they have their certification revoked. That person would be a menace in the fitness world! 
   Here are some of the issues that I have with this particular reality show:
  1. It can be a case of too much too soon. These contestants are extremely obese as in 300 or 400 pounds. Instead of a gradual build-up of exercise, they are thrown into a competition in which the quickest weight loss is the goal. There is great potential  for overuse injuries and joint problems. 
  2. There is an increased the danger of cardiovascular emergencies such as heart attacks when jumping into intense activity after years of a sedentary lifestyle. Thin and active people can drop dead from hidden medical issues during exercise. Obese people are at greater risk! The T.V. show screens the contestants medically and also has access to on-site medical support. If you are working your clients in a similar fashion and speed, your client is at risk and emergency medical help may not be so close.
  3. The show focuses on weight loss only. The other parameters of health and fitness are ignored. If the contestants don't lose enough weight, they are failures. We know that muscle is denser than fat. In many cases the person may actually gain a few pounds initially if their body responds by adding lean mass. Girth and Body Mass Index  measurements are a more reliable indicator of progress. For example, The person may weigh the same or slightly more but the waist circumference is decreasing indicating positive progress. In this reality show, the health of the client is basically disregarded. The fastest weight loser wins, not the healthiest contestant. 
  4. Sudden drastic weight loss can be a shock to the human body. In real life, gradual progression is preferable to fast weight reduction.
  5. What happens when the show is over and the contestants go home? When there is no follow-up guidance, motivation and exercise adherence often wanes. There may be a severe rebound effect with all of the lost weight returning.
  6. The reality show Fitness Trainers tend to be extremely aggressive 'in your face' types. Their usual mode of communication is to shout instructions like a marine drill sergeant. This adds to the dynamics of the show. Most non T.V. clients would likely get intimidated or irritated by such a trainer. A few of these trainers are outright guilty of verbal abuse! Is it not possible that some of these contestants may have been victimized by negative taunts and bullying in the past? Do they really need more of this treatment?  Were these Fitness Trainers to try such tactics with some of my former clients, such as Stephen, Mordecai or Charlie, they would get a return blast that would shatter their eardrums!
  7. I question the credentials of these Fitness Trainers. Morbidly obese people should qualify as a special population in regards to potential health issues. The Trainers of this show were recruited because they were famous for working with celebrities.  In Canada, Fitness Trainers should have a minimum of a Bachelor Degree in an Exercise Science related field as well as a Certified Exercise Physiologist Certificate in order to work with special populations. The USA has similar standards with groups such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American Council on Exercise. A background search of the Fitness Trainers in "the Biggest Loser' does not reveal any such expertise in working with at-risk individuals. If they do have such credentials, they should list it in their portfolios. This enhanced certification is mostly to appease the insurance companies. The show would be insured and protected legally to the maximum no matter who the trainers are. Reality T.V. is not really that much like real life! 
  8. The Fitness Trainers try to induce an emotional breakdown in the contestant. The purpose of this is to get the contestant to admit to some deep rooted psychological issue, a past trauma, or an eating disorder that is at the root of the obesity. In real life such a client should be referred by the Fitness Trainer to a health professional. The actual show does has a staff of such professionals in the background. However the suggestion that the Fitness Trainer deals with this on their own is both misleading and dangerous!
  9. Some of the exercises or challenges in the show are outright dangerous for obese people to attempt.  A 400 pound contestant is at risk for joint injuries if subjected to ballistic, explosive movements as is the norm for this show. Likewise would be to have them run long distances. Joint injuries are common and a cardiovascular emergency could be looking for a place to happen.     
   I have already conceded that such a show has the right ingredients to draw a prime time audience. 
That does not make it a model for how Fitness Trainers should operate with their clientele!
Lose a few pounds! Get cursed at by bullying Fitness Trainers!
Do some dangerous exercises! Give up a few of my favorite foods.
I could win this thing!
The million dollar prize sure would come in handy! 
To me, it is too much like watching a
 hockey movie where the actors can't
skate or a running movie where
 someone runs a four minute mile
 with every muscle in their body all
 tensed up. If I can't buy into the realism I won't watch it.   
   If you like watching train wrecks
 this show this show is for you.
 Otherwise turn off the tube and read
 up on the latest Fitness Training
Notice the difference already!
And I haven't even got to the diet changes yet!
A Million bucks - in the jeans!
 research. Do something constructive!

 Until next time,......keep fit! 

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