I must, however, disagree regarding some other so-called “bad” and “ugly” aspects of the show. (Quickly, I suppose I just have a different aesthetic than you, but I find offense at the “f-bomb” a little needless. But that’s less important so I won’t go into that.)

Sure, many regular viewers will have a misguided response to the show — granted. But the show itself is nearly as up-front as I would wish regarding the specific atmosphere of the “Ranch,” where weight-loss is a full-time occupation, versus being home, where one has a hell of a lot else to do, quite likely no trainers, less healthful food, etc, etc. I have only watched the latest season, but often I head contestants say something like, “Three pounds at home would be amazing — but three pounds on the Ranch is frustrating.” They talk about having a “great” week and following it with a perhaps less-great week — and the trainers are often rather clear and supportive in this regard. Once a person sighed because he “only” lost five pounds that week, and the trainers grimaced and told him that was terrific progress (In a cut-scene, Jillian expressed annoyance that the contestants often express frustration in the face of such ostensibly impressive results). Additionally, the two trainers often expressed (though the cynical viewer could certainly argue that this is for appearance’s sake) some annoyance with having to deal with some of the more outlandish game-aspects of the show.

Surely they are participating in that game — but, of course, one must ask what the net result is. I don’t have the answer to this, but I would venture to say that neither do you. What I mean is: surely some of the contestants will struggle, “cheat,” and ultimately suffer and relapse as a response. This must be recognized, reigned in, and hopefully stopped if the show is to continue (which, clearly it is). But one question would be: are many of the contestants helped to begin a healthier lifestyle even after the show ends?

(One thing I appreciated about the show, watching this latest season, was that the trainers — and Jillian particularly, despite her “foul language” — made a point to say that this is only the first of steps. These individuals were lucky enough (perhaps some would argue) to get a chance at a jump-start on one of the most difficult stages of creating healthy patterns in an otherwise unhealthy life — but the trainers are clear that, firstly, this is not merely a physical process and, in fact, the physical is in some ways secondary and, secondly, that if healthful practices and habits aren’t formed and implemented at home, the entire process will have been for naught and, even, hazardous. People at home should not falsely believe that they ought to follow these sorts of regiments, nor that they should be expected to have as expedited a process — this, as I said, is to be expected, unfortunately, but the show itself is relatively clear in this regard. It could be clearer, certainly, and I hope it gets so, but the trainers, for example, seem rather well-guided to me.)

Furthermore, beyond the contestants, the question is: what is the net effect on the viewing public? This I do not know, and I have ceded that often enough there will be trouble (I don’t necessarily blame the show for this nor think that we should immediately castigate, say, the trainers. E.g. how can we create an atmosphere in which people have more realistic perspectives on, say, reality television generally? Now THAT would be a healthy transformation.) But does the show serve as inspiration? motivation? education? Again, though I believe it surely does, I do not know the extent. I would just hope that when viewing, praising, or criticizing the show, we all take the care to consider what the show is intending, what it is accomplishing, and what it is failing at. Thus I am glad to read articles like yours and, despite having my disagreements, think that voices like yours should be heard and responded to with significantly greater clarity, transparency, and care from the producers, doctors, trainers, et al.

Thanks Again,
Rod