(BlackDoctor.org) — Reality TV shows focusing on weight loss have become all the rage. It’s obviously satisfying to see others battling the bulge…and it’s certainly inspiring when you see them get results. Suddenly, the “if they can do it, I can do it” adage becomes truer than ever.
Right?
Maybe not. The fact is, the truth is deceiving. What you see on TV is not necessarily what you really get. Past winners of The Biggest Loser have confessed to starving themselves and stop drinking water in hopes of winning the final prize. And it’s hard to know what happens once the curtain goes down and the contestants are out of the public eye.
And there are other reasons why these shows are just bad for you:
They Encourage Unhealthy Behaviors
BridalPlasty is a show that pits women against each other in order to win cosmetic surgery procedures so they can look “right” at their wedding. Hilary Kinavey, a therapist who specializes in eating and weight-related concerns, believes reality TV shows like this one are doing more harm than good.
“They promote a dieting culture that ensures a focus on body dissatisfaction instead of achievable health-centered behavior changes,” says Kinavey.
Other shows, like The Biggest Loser, focus on behaviors that can be easily considered as eating-disorder behavior: chewing gum instead of eating, obsessive calorie counting, and excessive exercise.
They Show Unrealistic Results
Wellness coach Suzanne Pantazis has a particular gripe with NBC’s new show, Heavy. In the show, two contestants are removed from their home and spend six months in a secluded facility, where they concentrate on their weight loss without distractions from the outside world. There’s no prize and no competition. The goal is simply to lose weight. However, Pantazis feels these people are doomed to regain the weight because of the unrealistic demands put on the contestants.
“For individuals who have been overweight most of their lives, a 3-lb. weight loss in a month is a huge improvement,” says Pantazis. “But based on what they see on television programs, they often feel like a failure!”
Instant gratification is in, and if weight loss efforts don’t seem to be working after a very short time, it is very discouraging.
They Make Exercise Look Like Torture
