"Biggest Loser" Weight Loss News Is Misleading

You lose weight, and then you gain it all back. That grim reality is a mainstay of our obese society. But a new study of contestants from the reality TV show “The Biggest Loser” suggests that, for them, that re-gain was all but pre-ordained. Contestants were severely obese and exercised and dieted competitively for 30 weeks. The unusual circumstances (most of us don’t lose weight with the whole world watching) led to unusual weight loss — over 100 pounds on average. But the process slowed their metabolism in such a way that it left them having to eat much, much less — 500 calories a day less — than other people just to maintain that weight loss. It’s not surprising that, after six years, all but one regained significant amounts of weight, and four ended up heavier than before the competition. But what does that mean for the rest of us who want to lose weight? Is weight loss always futile?