‘The Biggest Loser’s Bob Harper Defends USA Reboot: “Weight Loss Is Controversial”

The Biggest Loser may have a new network, new trainers, and new contestants, but it’s still dealing with the same controversies. At the Television Critics Association’s 2020 winter tour USA took the stage to showcase its upcoming reboot of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. It wasn’t long before series host Bob Harper, trainers Erica Lugo and Steve Cook, and Senior Vice President of Alternative Series Development and Production Heather Olander were met with accusations of body shaming and promoting unhealthy weight loss practices.

The Biggest Loser originally premiered on NBC in 2004 and ran for 17 seasons. In its later years the weight loss competition series was met with a great deal of criticism. Several former contestants of the series have revealed they were unable to keep the weight off because the extreme exercise conditions of the show could not be translated into their everyday lives. There were also reports of the series drugging contestants to increase weight loss. Also, multiple contestants complained about being pressured to engage in unhealthy weight loss practices like over-exercising in trash bags prior to weigh-ins. Critics were quick to highlight how the revival of this series was at odds with the body positivity movement.

“For me I know I’ve worked with a lot of people in the past that the show has really helped and inspired,” series host Bob Harper said when asked about the contestants and viewers this show has hurt. “Weight loss is controversial any way you look at it. And one thing that I’ve learned being in this business for as long as I’ve been in it is that losing weight is the easiest part. It’s keeping it off because you have to divorce yourself from everything you did in your past that got you to that place.”

To that end, the panelists noted that this reboot of the competition series would have a more comprehensive after care package for when contestants were sent home. This package includes a one-year membership to Planet Fitness. Also, contestants will no longer be voted off but will only be asked to leave depending on how much or little weight they’ve lost. “We want you to succeed because it’s very difficult,” Harper emphasized.

“We do want to make a better connection and a bigger connection between weight loss and health,” USA and SYFY’s Olander explained. “For these contestants on the show they primarily came on the show because they wanted to live a longer life. They unanimously talked about the health issues they were having because of the weight. The message of the show is, yes. Being fit is great and fitting into skinny jeans — if that’s what you want — that’s fabulous. But it’s not the end all be all.”

Instead Olander highlighted that the rebooted series would focus more on health than weight loss. Harper and the trainers agreed, explaining that each contestant was required to hit a certain caloric goal each day and that they were monitored by fitness experts and nutritionists.

“Only you and your doctor know what your real health is like. We can’t judge anyone. It’s none of my business to tell you how you look or how you fell unless you bring me in under the tent,” Harper said.