Over the last several months, we’ve heard a lot about The Biggest Loser on NBC and why so many contestants end up gaining back the weight. Now, a former Biggest Loser contestant is launching some pretty bold claims, stating that the means and methods the NBC series uses to help contestants to lose the major weight are a nightmare…and potentially pretty shady.
A report over at the NY Post this week talks to a few former Biggest Loser contestants who say the show resorted to giving them additional pills to help them lose weight. Those pills allegedly ranged from banned yellow jacket energy pills to Adderall, according to the allegations. And it wasn’t just the pills that were a problem for those on the show. One contestant, Suzanne Mendonca, says that she and her fellow cast members were encouraged to throw up on the regular. She also says that people were continually passing out at the weigh-in during the finale.
People were passing out in Dr. H’s office at the finale weigh-in. On my season, five people had to be rushed to the hospital. He knew exactly what we were doing and never tried to stop it.
Dr. Rob Huizenga, who serves as the in-house doctor on the series, actually responded to the claims, denying the allegations.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Contestants are told at the start of the show that there is zero tolerance for any weight-loss drugs. Urine drug screens and the evaluation of serial weights are repeatedly used to flush out possible illicit use.
Obviously, losing weight is an extremely difficult and emotional process. It’s incredibly hard to drop the number of pounds that the contestants on The Biggest Loser are able to drop each week, and we know it takes an intense amount of exercise plus an extremely modified diet in order to reach those numbers. Keeping the weight off is even harder. Once the contestants adjust to a much more normal routine after their time on the NBC reality competition series, their metabolisms slow down. The Biggest Loser is hard. Very, very hard.
However, whether or not the series is actually resorting to banned drugs or sketchy methods is up in the air. The Biggest Loser has been on the air for 17 seasons at this point and many people have come out on the other side of the competition having gained a healthier identity and grown a lot during their time on the series. And while there has been some risk and criticisms related to the show's basic format, many other contestants do not regret their time on the series.
The Biggest Loser has not been confirmed for Season 18 yet. To find out which shows will be back next fall, check out our network rundown.
