The female trainers on the US and Australian versions of The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels and Michelle Bridges, have spoken out about their concerns for the welfare of the show’s contestants saying bigger sized contestants, drastic diets and extreme workouts are a deathly combination. Jillian claims “she has no control over their demanding workouts and is scared the unfit competitors could keel over” and Michelle has admitted to having “many sleepless nights concerned about their welfare, concerned about their health and concerned about their headspace.”Who would ever have known that these women would have shared my own concerns about the show which I went into detail in this post entitled ‘Biggest Loser Busted.’ I still shudder at the thought that contestants on the show sign a waiver that states that any medical treatment they may receive will not necessarily be administered by a qualified medical practitioner. That one fact alone, apart from all the other apalling practices, should surely prompt some smart television executive to ponder about the liability they are creating. Alas, however, the show goes on.
The real test to come with these comments by Jillian and Michelle to my mind, will be whether they try to do something about their concerns or just let things slide. If they are truly genuine, being such an integral part of the ratings success of their shows, surely they must be able to exercise some influence in making some positive changes. A good place to start would surely be a much greater emphasis on the psychological wellbeing of contestants that can be seen by the viewing public and the cessation of extreme workouts that clearly push contestants so hard that now even their trainers have concerns for their wellbeing.
Image: Daily Telegraph
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Funny they come out with comments like this right before the new season starts in Australia. I saw it advertised on Channel 10 this morning.
Pardon the cynicism, but my bet is that it's a publicity boost. But yes, they should be very concerned. I know that I lose a very high percentage of my body weight in a short amount of time (around 6-8 weeks) and ended up in heart failure.
Oh how much I wish this program would be taken off air.
SO long as Michelle can sell her books, she doesn't care. Yes, I'm cynical too.
Jillian is becoming very famous here in the U.S. She has her own fitness "stuff" and I was just talking about her this morning to my husband. As a fitness professional myself I am horrified by her fitness tactics.
Jillian, please,please speak out publicly about this. Be a voice in the right direction and show America the truth about TBL and these types of diets.
Last night I was reading AJ Rochester's book "Confessions of a Reformed Dieter" (why? Because my ed got the better of me in the library and convinced me it was a good idea. It was THE MOST stupid idea of my life and triggering beyond belief. Apparently I can't read dieting books). While she's no longer the host of TBL, I think what I have to say is still valid.
What made me SO angry is that before going on this diet, she had struggled with anorexia/bulimia/binge eating for years. She was even seeing an eating disorders psychiatrists. Yes, her humor is very sharp and quick, but it's also so extremely negative (comments like "backside the size of Europe"). As well as this, she did her on filmed lifestyle show with Foxtel and they followed her over a year (maybe longer, I'm not quite sure) and got her to lose less than 1kg/week. Which is recommended for those who need to lose weight.
So as well as promoting on the biggest loser; ridiculously high weight loss (dangerously high sometimes) AND in many respects what I see as eating-disordered behavior….she's been through the psychological terror/torture of an ed herself AND even SHE didn't lose weight that fast. I'm horrified she was promoting TBL, and always have been, but it's even worse in light of what I read last night.
Diet Coke Missy – There certainly are a tonne of inconsistancies relating to TBL and that is just another one. Best stay away from those diet books!
Fiona and Andrea – I think this article must surely place Michelle and Jillian in a position where they need to be true to their word. Or at least I hope so. I pray there will be some significant changes to the show based on their concerns, if indeed, they are real. I certainly share them, so I hope they are being genuine.