The Biggest Loser: How much is too much?

May 15, 12:33 PMExtreme Weight Loss ExaminerMark Rubi

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Photo courtesy of WomensHealth.gov

When it comes to losing weight for a competition like The Biggest Loser, how much weight is losing too much weight? We watched in awe as the last season of The Biggest Loser wound down at the sheer magnitude of the weight being lost by some of the contestants. Then, the nation was shocked by the massive amount of weight lost by the winner Helen Phillips and the other final contestants in the final weeks before the live finale. In those last few weeks, the winner Helen lost an amazing 30 lbs. to take home the grand prize of $250,000.

The big drop in the final weeks was unexpected, because as anyone who has ever lost a lot of weight can tell you, the rate of your weight loss usually slows as you get closer to a healthy weight. Before the final weigh-in, the largest weekly weight losses for Helen during the competition were 12 lbs. in the first week, 8 lbs in week 2, and 9 lbs. in week 5. In reality, those losses were perfectly normal for someone entering a weight loss and exercise program and with more than 100 lbs. to lose.

Every other week ranged between 1-7 lbs. That also was perfectly normal. But the weight loss of the final weeks was something extraordinary and maybe even dangerous. Helen began the competition at 257 lbs, with a Body Mass Index of 41.5, which made her, in medical terms, morbidly obese.

Helen entered the last weeks of The Biggest Loser at 147 lbs., giving her a BMI of 23.7, which is in the range of a normal, healthy body weight. After being at a normal weight for her height, Helen lost 30 more lbs. before the finale was broadcast. At the final weigh-in, she tipped the scales at only 117 lbs. This meant that 18.9 was Helen’s new BMI number.

Technically, 18.9 is also in the range of a healthy body weight, but 3 more pounds and Helen would be considered medically underweight. The concern here is that while it is laudable to encourage a healthy body weight, it is equally important to make sure that body image is based on health on not on weight alone.

According the National Center for Health Statistics, more than one third of all women between the ages of 16-64 who are already at a normal weight or underweight report that they have tried to lose weight in the last year. The study suggests that health takes a back seat to scale number and dress size numbers for many women. Fashion model Ana Carolina Reston died at age 21 from complication of anorexia.The photo to the left shows Ms. Reston as a healthy young model. The photo below shows her after developing the anorexia eating disorder. She was 5'8" tall and weighed 88 lbs. at the time of her death.

It seems to be mostly a gender issue also, since the number of underweight and healthy sized women trying to lose weight is 350% higher than their male counterparts who are underweight or at normal weight.

Healthy in mind and body is the key. Healthy in mind and body is beautiful. Too much weight is bad for our health, but too little can kill you too.

Information about eating disorders can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and WomensHealth.gov

It's your life. It's your body. It's your health.

© Mark Rubi, May 15, 2009