How Real Is It: Losing Weight

Aired on Lifetime Television
October 19 and November 30, 2008
Show 522

Reality TV shows sometimes show people losing 100, even 200 pounds – quickly. They're all the rage, but are they realistic? Meet Nicole Reimer, who struggled with her weight and finally lost 85 pounds by changing her diet and exercising every day. It wasn't easy, and certainly different from the way it's portrayed on reality TV. "They have support from people hired to do this kind of thing – most people don't have that," says Nicole, noting that not being able to match the success shown on TV will discourage most people. Dr. Robert Huizenga, approached by NBC to become the medical advisor on their show "The Biggest Loser," implemented a program of rapid weight loss involving diet and hours of daily exercise that worked on the show. But Dr. Martin Binks of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center questions the price of such weight loss success. While he feels such TV shows can motivate, they can also be exploitive and dangerous. "For the sake of drama, we often see shock elements that often play to stereotypes of obesity," he said, pointing out that moderately intense exercise is often the better long-term approach. Viewers like Nicole approach such shows pragmatically – that such rapid results are possible, but they're generally not very realistic. In short, don't try this at home.