I am not a fan of weight loss competitions. Participants will do just about anything for the short period of  time necessary to get the pounds off. You cannot develop long term healthy habits this way.

For my readers from out-of-the country, in the U.S. there is a reality show called “Biggest Loser”. The contestants all weight about 300# at the start of the show. They participate in activity and knowledge challenges as well as weekly weigh-ins. Each week one contestant is eliminated until finally the winner (Biggest loser) is identified in the final episode.

There is a Registered Dietitian in the background who works with the contestants to develop the individualized meal plans, and I assume the nutrition education segments.

Tonight’s episode began with a challenge in a shopping mall food court. They were asked to identify the food with the most sodium (chicken alfredo), the most fat (pepperoni pizza), the most calories (nachos) and the most sugar (pie a’la mode). It is important to have a sense of the value of the food that we eat. But here’s the kicker: the winner of each challenge got to select some one from the other team who had to consume the food(!).

I am so appalled! The contestant who had to eat the pizza was in tears. What is the point of that abuse? Ratings? I think that the producers of this program are the real losers. What do you think?