A new three-part documentary on Netflix titled Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser pulls back the curtain on the controversial weight-loss reality show, revealing the serious physical and emotional toll endured by its participants. Former contestants recount being pushed to survive on as few as 800 calories a day while enduring up to eight hours of grueling exercise—often against medical advice. Some were persuaded to sign contracts hastily or even to artificially gain weight just to be cast. The long-term effects were damaging, with reports of eating disorders, mental health struggles, weight regain, and little to no support once filming ended.
Medical consultant Dr. Robert Huizenga criticized the show’s structure, exposing how challenges were staged without proper approval. In one alarming incident, a contestant collapsed from rhabdomyolysis after being forced to run in extreme heat without adequate warning. Trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper also faced scrutiny. Michaels was accused of handing out caffeine supplements, while Harper’s calls for caution were often overlooked.
Harper, who survived a near-fatal heart attack in 2017, later revealed that despite years of working together, Michaels never reached out to him during his recovery—a silence he described as deeply telling.
Directed by Skye Borgman, Fit for TV probes the ethics of turning weight loss into prime-time entertainment. With raw testimony and behind-the-scenes accounts, the series paints a sobering picture of how the pursuit of ratings often came at the expense of contestants’ health and dignity
Leave a Reply