Former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard joins new season of "Biggest Loser"

[Calliope]

This show doesn't teach people to exercise and be healthy, it teaches people to overexercise unsustainably and unrealistically, eat processed foods, and that "losing the highest percentage of weight loss" takes priority over all other aspects of health. This isn't a benevolent lecture on wellness and acceptance, it's a marketing ploy to sell exercise equipment, and merchandising and advertising tie-ins. The trainers shame contestants for being fat, being tired, sustaining injuries, exercising so much that they vomit (which isn't enough) - and encourage behaviours like exercising even more and fasting to the point of dehydration when anticipating weigh-ins.

"Most of us" are not fat - but "most of us" here are lucky enough to have access to fresh ingredients, the time to prepare them, the physical ability and time available to exercise. If you're rushing from one job to another or scheduling your day around public transit, maybe a smoke and a candy bar or a Big Mac Combo is the best you can do. Not everyone on food stamps can rush out and stock up on Subway sandwiches and Jimmy Dean's turkey breasts. Obesity compounds physical ailments, yes - but that just makes it more difficult to summon the energy to change them. If you seriously think that there are people out there gaining weight specifically so that they can be chosen for a TV show that further removes their ability to work and earn money in the short term then I don't even know what to say.

The show doesn't give "overweight people" "fame and fortune", either. I would wager the majority of them don't get public speaking or fitness guru engagements - and even if they do, that's hardly millions of dollars. How much money do you think the winner actually gets to keep? Someone with that many health problems is pretty likely to have some hefty medical bills to take care of, as well as things like wages they missed out on for the duration of the show, and other life expenses.

I watched the finale (having not watched since the beginning of the season) and it was atrocious, it was like watching an overzealous cult meeting. Like a sideshow or a circus, the garishly lit close-ups of the obese contestants (who in their photos aren't allowed to smile or even wear a t-shirt) contrasted with the heavily made up and slimmed down contestants who almost all, shockingly, managed to look disappointed with their final mammoth efforts on the scale. I hope that they are happy, but I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't, despite the carefully prepared soundbites. I'm surprised that the winner didn't have a heart attack, but I'm sure whenever that happens it will make for good ratings.