Biggest Loser Lawsuit

[puddleofgrace]

www.tvguide.com/news/biggest-loser-lawsuit-abuse-drugged/

Suzanne Mendonca, a former contestant on The Biggest Loser, is spearheading a class-action lawsuit against the show, saying producers withheld water from contestants, forced them to overexercise, and "discarded them when the cameras stopped rolling," TMZ reports.

Mendonca, who appeared on Season 2 of the weight-loss reality show, and other disgruntled former contestants recently spoke to the New York Post. In addition to noting that they've regained nearly all the weight they lost on the show back, the alums claim that contestants were encouraged to take drugs, starve themselves, and lie about how many pounds they were shedding. They also criticized the integrity of the show's doctor, Rob Huizenga.

"People were passing out in Dr. H's office at the finale weigh-in," Mendonca told the Post. "On my season, five people had to be rushed to the hospital."

Other former contestants allege that trainer/host Bob Harper gave contestants Adderall and "yellow jacket" pills that contained Ephedra, an energy booster that was banned by the FDA in 2004. "People would take amphetamines, water pills, diuretics, and throw up in the bathroom," Mendonca says. "They would take their spin bikes into the steam room to work up a sweat. I vomited every single day. Bob Harper tells people to throw up: 'Good,' he says. 'You'll lose more calories.'

"The Biggest Loser doesn't save lives," she continued. "It ruins lives. Mentally, emotionally, financially -- you come back a different person. Half the people from my season have gotten divorced. The ripple effect isn't just weeks or months. It's years."

NBC has yet to renew The Biggest Loser for an 18th season, but issued the following statement to the Post: "The safety and well-being of our contestants is, and always has been, paramount. We prohibit the use of any illegal substances, in addition to the many other rules and procedures of the show that are designed to ensure safety."



Why is this show still on the air?

[knx9211]

I mean, is there anyone who really thought losing 30lb in a week is healthy?

[So_Fetch]

May 24, 2016 11:55:22 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

I mean, is there anyone who really thought losing 30lb in a week is healthy?

Probably the same people who didn't know that coffee would be hot.

[toledo]

May 24, 2016 11:57:21 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

May 24, 2016 11:55:22 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

I mean, is there anyone who really thought losing 30lb in a week is healthy?

Probably the same people who didn't know that coffee would be hot.

oooh, you done it now.

[cleo29]

I have never thought that show to be healthy, not even a little bit. Where are they teaching people new ways to approach eating, food and getting exercise, which could simply mean walking 30 minutes a day?? If you want to help someone make a lifelong change, then really help them do that. Make it something that is healthy, can be maintained a long time, etc.

I had heard about them using fat burner pills, Jillian MIchaels gave them out and sells her own brand too.

[puddleofgrace]

May 24, 2016 11:58:14 GMT -5 toledo said:

May 24, 2016 11:57:21 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

Probably the same people who didn't know that coffee would be hot.

oooh, you done it now.

[Deleted]

I absolutely hate this show.

[lilac05]

I'm glad all of this is coming to light. I hate that it has taken so long.

Obviously people apply on their own will, but it does feel kind of predatory. The show finds people who are desperate to lose weight & introduces them to all kinds of "professionals" who are there to "help" them. I think they're easily convinced that they're under the direction of a doctor, which is always recommended.

I used to know a fairly recent contestant. We weren't friends, but sometimes I see what she posts on FB. The last I saw, she was still defending Biggest Loser. She said the slower metabolism (which the article she posted about) was a fair exchange for being at a lower risk for other diseases. Better to life life with a slow metabolism than die early. I think she had a good point there, but wonder what she has to say now.

[mkrup]

I went to HS with someone on Season 6 (I think). She said by the time she was voted off the show she was eating well below the number of calories at the threshold for starvation in order to drop the lbs.

I don't actually know how she's doing now because she kind of fell off the face of the earth.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

May 24, 2016 11:52:07 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

www.tvguide.com/news/biggest-loser-lawsuit-abuse-drugged/

Why is this show still on the air?

Because in America being fat is entertainment. It is the modern version of being a circus freak. A show like this allows people to point and laugh and ridicule and then feel good that they themselves aren't that bad.

[greysgirl]

I dated a guy that was on this show. He gained all the weight back and just finished losing it a second time. He said the way to low calorie restrictions were accurate. He still defends a lot about the show though. I guess different people had different experiences on there.

[melodramatic26]

they totally teach you how to eat healthy with subway sandwiches and jennie-o turkey. Totally legit advice.

[gizmo]

May 24, 2016 12:49:48 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

May 24, 2016 11:52:07 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

www.tvguide.com/news/biggest-loser-lawsuit-abuse-drugged/

Why is this show still on the air?

Because in America being fat is entertainment. It is the modern version of being a circus freak. A show like this allows people to point and laugh and ridicule and then feel good that they themselves aren't that bad.

5/24/16, the day I agreed with TOTS

[kayl84]

They need to deal with the mental aspects of why they gained the weight and need therapy most of the time. Especially for the emotional eaters or stress eaters, etc. I think it really hit a low and when Bob + Jillian left, after that girl Rachel I think her name was, looked SOOOOOO sickly thin and not healthy given the time frame from when she left to the finale. I remember the look on their faces said it allllllll.

It's sad. I see it in the gastric bypass world too though, people who don't address the emotions behind why they overate or really just who did it at such a low BMI/weight to be "skinny", are the ones who have gained it back or were like "I had 2 slices of cake as a cheat meal and I'm gaining weight back" aren't being honest w/themselves really.

[mcsangel2]

May 24, 2016 12:40:12 GMT -5 mkrup said:

I went to HS with someone on Season 6 (I think). She said by the time she was voted off the show she was eating well below the number of calories at the threshold for starvation in order to drop the lbs.

I don't actually know how she's doing now because she kind of fell off the face of the earth.

Who was it? I watched the show around that time.

[puddleofgrace]

May 24, 2016 12:49:48 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

May 24, 2016 11:52:07 GMT -5 puddleofgrace said:

www.tvguide.com/news/biggest-loser-lawsuit-abuse-drugged/

Why is this show still on the air?

Because in America being fat is entertainment. It is the modern version of being a circus freak. A show like this allows people to point and laugh and ridicule and then feel good that they themselves aren't that bad.

I hate people.

[Gato]

This is really sad to read, especially the use of drugs and vomiting. I hope the seasons with kids didn't resort to these tactics.

[Deleted]

Wow. I knew it couldn't be good, definitely not real life sustainable (no one can work out that much every day forever) but this is awful.

[mkrup]

May 24, 2016 14:18:02 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

May 24, 2016 12:40:12 GMT -5 mkrup said:

I went to HS with someone on Season 6 (I think). She said by the time she was voted off the show she was eating well below the number of calories at the threshold for starvation in order to drop the lbs.

I don't actually know how she's doing now because she kind of fell off the face of the earth.

Who was it? I watched the show around that time.

Coleen. It was a family season and she was on with her dad.

[Deleted]

I follow Amanda Arlauskas on Instagram. I didn't realize she was a biggest loser contestant when I first followed. She was on season 7 or 8? And she did have surgery to remove excess skin. I think she has kept most of her weight off.
There was just an article about how this show absolutely wrecks your metabolism and I believe a documentary (if not series) is coming out about the practices on the show.

[lexxasaurus]

May 24, 2016 11:57:21 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

May 24, 2016 11:55:22 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

I mean, is there anyone who really thought losing 30lb in a week is healthy?

Probably the same people who didn't know that coffee would be hot.

I assume you're referencing the McDonald's lawsuit and have not a clue what actually happened, yes?

In regards to BL, I feel bad because of course it isn't healthy but the people going on this show must be desperate. And in that kind of desperation, I don't think they care how unhealthy it is. This show is terrible, and I wish I were surprised that it's lasted so long.
Also, like a pp said, I really wish weight loss shows focused on the emotional aspect, since getting thin doesn't fix your attachment to food, or stress eating or mental fixation on your body.

[knx9211]

As flip as my comment sounded, I didn't mean it against anyone on the show. It just expresses my lack of surprise that the stuff the show put them through was incredibly unhealthy and harmful.

[mcsangel2]

May 24, 2016 15:11:12 GMT -5 mkrup said:

May 24, 2016 14:18:02 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Who was it? I watched the show around that time.

Coleen. It was a family season and she was on with her dad.

I totally remember her. They picked on her dad a lot and made it seem like he wasn't totally on board.

[So_Fetch]

May 24, 2016 16:04:25 GMT -5 lexxasaurus said:

May 24, 2016 11:57:21 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

Probably the same people who didn't know that coffee would be hot.

I assume you're referencing the McDonald's lawsuit and have not a clue what actually happened, yes?

Aren't you sweet to ask.

Thanks for the heads up toledo, LOL

Yes, I am aware - the coffee was too hot.  But even if it had just been hot enough, it still would have hurt and someone would have been unhappy about that.  And in this age people sue over everything.  Would you feel better if I said, "probably the same people who dry their hair in the bathtub?"  We can go with that.

[boxertdog]

May 24, 2016 11:55:22 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

I mean, is there anyone who really thought losing 30lb in a week is healthy?

America wants what America wants.

[Deleted]

May 24, 2016 16:34:11 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

May 24, 2016 16:04:25 GMT -5 lexxasaurus said:

I assume you're referencing the McDonald's lawsuit and have not a clue what actually happened, yes?

Aren't you sweet to ask.

Thanks for the heads up toledo, LOL

Yes, I am aware - the coffee was too hot.  But even if it had just been hot enough, it still would have hurt and someone would have been unhappy about that.  And in this age people sue over everything.  Would you feel better if I said, "probably the same people who dry their hair in the bathtub?"  We can go with that.

That's not actually what happened. The coffee scalded an old woman who was in the hospital for weeks with burns that never healed. That McDonald's had been cited numerous times for serving coffee that was too hot. It was actually a really egregious case that caused serious long term harm, not just someone annoyed they got a minor burn that went away an hour later.

It's not that easy to bring a frivolous lawsuit. I'm a defense lawyer, and even I think the deck is stacked against plaintiffs.

[Aquatica]

I tried watching Biggest Loser and how unhealthy it was turned me away.

I'm glad there are participants coming out against it but what about the contract they signed? Will this be swept under the rug due to clauses?

[So_Fetch]

May 24, 2016 22:47:27 GMT -5 elle said:

May 24, 2016 16:34:11 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

Aren't you sweet to ask.

Thanks for the heads up toledo, LOL

Yes, I am aware - the coffee was too hot.  But even if it had just been hot enough, it still would have hurt and someone would have been unhappy about that.  And in this age people sue over everything.  Would you feel better if I said, "probably the same people who dry their hair in the bathtub?"  We can go with that.

That's not actually what happened. The coffee scalded an old woman who was in the hospital for weeks with burns that never healed. That McDonald's had been cited numerous times for serving coffee that was too hot. It was actually a really egregious case that caused serious long term harm, not just someone annoyed they got a minor burn that went away an hour later.

It's not that easy to bring a frivolous lawsuit. I'm a defense lawyer, and even I think the deck is stacked against plaintiffs.

I understand. But in the normal world, where people dont have super thick hair and perfect number sixes, people would have gotten the reference.

[sofamonkey]

May 24, 2016 22:50:45 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

May 24, 2016 22:47:27 GMT -5 elle said:

That's not actually what happened. The coffee scalded an old woman who was in the hospital for weeks with burns that never healed. That McDonald's had been cited numerous times for serving coffee that was too hot. It was actually a really egregious case that caused serious long term harm, not just someone annoyed they got a minor burn that went away an hour later.

It's not that easy to bring a frivolous lawsuit. I'm a defense lawyer, and even I think the deck is stacked against plaintiffs.

I understand. But in the normal world, where people dont have super thick hair and perfect number sixes, people would have gotten the reference.

Maybe you  should stop talking.  Watch a documentary once in a while.  This wasn't a pleasant case, and you continuing to be thick headed and flippant is just making you look like a fool.  

Also, and not as if Elle needs anyone defending her, but knocking her appearance is tacky as hell, and immature to boot.  It's not her, it's you. 

[Deleted]

May 24, 2016 22:50:45 GMT -5 So_Fetch said:

May 24, 2016 22:47:27 GMT -5 elle said:

That's not actually what happened. The coffee scalded an old woman who was in the hospital for weeks with burns that never healed. That McDonald's had been cited numerous times for serving coffee that was too hot. It was actually a really egregious case that caused serious long term harm, not just someone annoyed they got a minor burn that went away an hour later.

It's not that easy to bring a frivolous lawsuit. I'm a defense lawyer, and even I think the deck is stacked against plaintiffs.

I understand. But in the normal world, where people dont have super thick hair and perfect number sixes, people would have gotten the reference.

I don't even know what this means.