This is going to be kind of a rambling, rant post. So apologies in advance.
There has been so much buzz about the Biggest Loser finale (which I haven't watched yet, still sitting on my DVR, but its been spoiled plenty), and now Jezebel has an article up now about Kai from Season 3 and how the show gave her an eating disorder (ED). It is a lot to take in, given that I've been a Biggest Loser watcher for a LONG time, before and after I lost the bulk of my own weight. I don't agree with the show and their methods, I've been pretty vocal about that in the past. But in a lot of ways I feel it can help give people that push of motivation to make small changes in their lives (join a gym, watch their portions, etc). It is not realistic at all to function in "normal" day to day life like they do on the ranch... and I watch the show clinging to that grain of salt. I won't lose 12lbs in a week and most of those contestants aren't truly losing 12lbs a week either. There are dehydration and game tactics at play. It is a reality competition show. They are competing for a prize at the end of a set time frame. A few of the articles I had read today mentioned that the show should reward the "winner" as the person who exemplifies the most knowledge about a healthy lifestyle that has reached a healthy goal weight. I would watch that show. It would make the contestants and process come across as more relatable to the viewer.
It is strange to me the things our society chooses to explode over, like whether or not Rachel went "too far" to win the show. I can certainly think of a laundry list of other topics people should get riled up and noisy about in our society, but Rachel's BMI isn't one of them. As I continue to deal with my own disordered eating issues on a daily basis, I see it when people that I don't know stop me at work and point at my stomach and tell me they can see I'm slimming down. It makes me feel proud that people can see the changes that my disordered eating prevent me from seeing. But it also makes me feel vulnerable, that if people can see the changes going down, will they still make comments if they see me gain it back?
It is a lot to think about and I'll probably be thinking about it and reflecting on it for a while.
I'm going to leave the links for some of the articles I read through this morning for reference.
Jezebel Article on Rachel's Win
Jezebel Article on Kai's Eating Disorder
Huffington Post Article on Reining in Outrage over Rachel's Win
FitSugar Article on Rachel's Win
