U WOT M8? The New ‘Biggest Loser’ Includes A 78KG Person & What The Bloody Hell

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We bid farewell to ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here’ this week, just as the new season of ‘The Biggest Loser: Transformed’ kicks off. But already, the weight-loss reality show isn’t off to the best start.

The ratings for the opening episode were the worst-ever season debut, but that’s the tip of the iceberg. The program is now under fire for including a contestant with a starting weight of only 78kg. Is this a legit joke?!

Contestant ‘Nikki’ has featured heavily in the Channel 10 promos, telling viewers that her partner hasn’t seen her naked in three years. But it wasn’t until the opening episode that we learnt Nikki only weighs a mere 78kg.

Twitter users were shocked by the inclusion of someone who has a relatively low and normal weight.

https://twitter.com/TheEllyGuest/status/841797493499162624

Losing weight is a personal choice – and if Nikki isn’t happy with herself – it’s, of course, her individual choice to change. All power to her!

However, featuring someone of a reasonable weight in a reality show that usually tackles morbid obesity sends a potentially dangerous message to viewers – including the many young people who watch the show. Nikki is only 7kg over the national average for Australian women (71.1kg), and the show communicates that this range isn’t normal and is something undesirable.

For some reason, ex-bachy and fitness guru Sam Wood has spoken out to defend the show, posting on Facebook:

“There was a bit of controversy today about the new Biggest Loser. It is for real people with as little as 10-15 kg to lose. I like it. They are relatable,” he wrote.

“Hopefully it will stop so many people passing judgment on others and looking at where their health is and how they can improve.”

This is a pretty odd way of looking at it. Since the reality show makes its bread and butter off viewers passing judgements on the appearance of others. For a program that traditionally targetted people dangerously unhealthy,  Nikki’s quest does little to reduce stigma on bodies sitting slightly outside what our culture idolises.