Is Biggest Loser Style Weight Loss Safe?

Reality television has been a huge hit since Survivor first hit the airwaves a number of years ago.  We have seen all sorts of shows that offer a glimpse into the real life of people who are famous – or just wanna-be famous.  One of the most popular shows on the air right now is the Biggest Loser.  The question many people have, however, is whether being the Biggest Loser is really safe.  With such extreme rapid weight loss, can these contestants really be getting healthier?

There is no denying that people suffering from obesity need to lose weight and that they need to do so through healthy diet and exercise changes.  The Biggest Loser does promote these changes, but is it doing so the right way?  Many people remember that the 2005 winner of the show admitted urinating blood due to both starving and dehydrating himself, and numerous other winners have experienced bad health problems as well.  Kai Hibbard, who was on The Biggest Loser during the third season actually gained more than thirty pounds after the show ended just by rehydrating herself.

The dehydration method has been a common occurrence on The Biggest Loser, allowing people to drop serious weight right before the weigh ins.  Another important fact is that dehydration isn’t just dangerous, it is potentially fatal.  While dietary and fitness changes are key to weight loss, they must be done in a healthy fashion. 

The Biggest Loser has the right idea, but the means they use to help people achieve extreme weight loss and the way they encourage contestants to make poor choices to beat weigh in and hope to win $250,000 is certainly not the best option for healthy lifelong weight loss.