Netflix’s Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser exposes shocking behind-the-scenes secrets from the hit NBC weight loss competition.
Five years after The Biggest Loser ended its 18-season run, the darker side of the hit competition series is coming to light in Netflix’s new three-episode documentary Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, which premiered on August 15.
The series, which first debuted on NBC in October 2004 and averaged 8 million viewers at its peak, followed contestants competing to lose the highest percentage of body weight over 30 weeks. But behind the inspirational transformations was a much harsher reality. The documentary uncovers both the public controversies and private struggles that defined the show’s legacy.
Among the most shocking revelations, several former contestants recalled being pressured to sign lengthy contracts in isolation, with threats that their spot on the show could be given away if they delayed. Season 2 contestant Suzanne Mendonca even alleged she was encouraged to gain extra weight before filming to better fit the show’s narrative.
The documentary also details the extreme measures used during filming, including contestants consuming as few as 800 calories a day while exercising for up to eight hours. Medical advisor Dr. Robert “H” Huizenga said he clashed with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels over such dangerous practices, warning they went against his professional recommendations.
Some contestants reported long-term health struggles as a result of their time on the show. Season 8 winner Danny Cahill admitted he regained nearly all of the 239 pounds he had lost, while Season 1 winner Ryan Benson said he quickly gained back his weight as well. Both expressed the emotional toll of feeling like they had failed after such public victories.
Other behind-the-scenes bombshells included the lack of aftercare for contestants once they returned home, tension between the show’s trainers, and the shocking transformation of season 15 winner Rachel Frederickson, which both Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels admitted left them “in horror.”
Though The Biggest Loser was once celebrated as an uplifting competition series, Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser paints a far more complicated picture of the show’s grueling demands, ethical controversies, and the lasting effects on those who took part.
