Weight Loss Reality TV Shows – Do They Work?
Reality TV shows featuring people losing weight or trying to get into better shape are not common, but they show up often enough. These shows put a tremendous amount of pressure on people to lose weight in front of the camera, and they often show dramatic results. Network executives love the concept, and it isn’t hard to understand how such shows can appeal to so many people. The number of people who are overweight or want to reduce weight seems to increase every month, and these shows provide hope even for the most jaded. However, doctors, nutritionists, and concerned individuals alike think about whether or not these shows are actually any good.
An overview
There are weight loss programs behind these shows, of course. The results would not have been so successful otherwise. The most successful of them, “The Biggest Loser,” also has trainers on hand to keep contestants focused on their goals and to provide advice to lose weight. On the surface, it seems like a good arrangement, and one that can produce great results. Yet there are some concerns. Reports indicate that more than a few former contestants have had trouble keeping the pounds off after the cameras have moved on to the next season. Just how well do these shows work once the season ends?
Some doubts
There have been some reports that these shows aren’t very good, in both the long-term and short-term. Weight loss workouts are frequently used, along with strictly-controlled diets. However, some nutritionists and dietitians complain that the pressure to lose weight and the psychological stress on contestants could be doing more harm than good. Some medical experts have expressed worry that the methods used on those shows might be causing the bodies of contestants some unnecessary strain that may result in permanent damage in the long run.
A possible lack of information
There are also worries that the weight loss diet plans enforced on the show aren’t adequately explained to the contestants. Because of this, they don’t have a solid idea how they began to lose weight, and thus they can not only end up getting it all back, but even gain more pounds after they leave. To both contestants and health advocates, this kind of outcome is the least desirable scenario.
Weight loss workouts and lifestyle changes certainly cause someone to lose the pounds and keep them off, but do reality TV shows do that? The results are, at best, questionable, though some nutritionists note there is potential. Positive habits should not only be enforced during the filming, but they should be instilled into the contestants so they don’t fall off their goals to lose weight and end up right back where they started.
