Healthier Weight believes weight loss is not a competitive sport. Each person will have their own way of tackling their approach to creating a healthier lifestyle and pitting people against one another is barbaric.
“We work with hundreds of obese people every year. While we can appreciate that weight loss will always be a popular topic, it can also be a personal struggle and should be dealt with in a sensitive manner,” says Dr Ashton, who promotes weight loss and healthier lifestyles through regular moderate exercise, gentle encouragement and re-establishing healthy relationships with food.
Monday’s episode highlighted the fact that ‘The Biggest Loser’ is just another ratings chasing game show – and not a fitness programme. Contestants were actually taunted with their favourite fatty, sugary foods and virtually forced to consume them to gain immunity from elimination. And, Claire, the one woman who’d worked really hard to lose the most amount of weight by taking extra exercise, was voted off the show, as she was seen as a threat by her team-mates. Dr Ashton says “This conveys very mixed and confused messages and goes against any sensible approach to a healthier lifestyle. People would be up in arms if you gave an alcoholic wine at an AA meeting!”
In 2009 66% UK men and 57% of UK women were overweight or obese and associated complications and diseases are adding to the strain placed upon the NHS. Along with heart disease, cancer and countless chronic conditions, obesity is associated with Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia where high levels of fat in the blood can lead to the narrowing and blocking of blood vessels. A programme focused on weight loss and ‘transforming bodies, health and ultimately lives’ should surely be addressing the deep rooted food issues which have no doubt plagued the contestants for years, rather than gambling with their health.
