The pursuit of weight loss is a common theme in modern society, and British television has reflected this fascination through a variety of weight loss shows. From the calorie-counting approach of "My Big Fat Diet" to the more controversial methods employed in programs like "Fat Families" and "Supersize vs Superskinny," these shows have captured the attention of viewers while also sparking debate about their effectiveness and ethical implications. This article will explore some of the best British weight loss shows, examining their premises, approaches, and impact on participants and audiences.
"My Big Fat Diet": A Simple Approach
Following the excesses of the festive season, many people turn to diets in January. "My Big Fat Diet," hosted by Anna Richardson, aimed to provide a straightforward solution to weight loss. The show emphasized simple calorie counting and exercise, avoiding fads and gimmicks. This approach offered viewers a potentially fun and quick fix for shedding extra pounds.
"Gillian McKeith's You Are What You Eat" and "Eat Yourself Sexy": The Food-Health Connection
Gillian McKeith's shows, including "You Are What You Eat?" and "Eat Yourself Sexy," highlighted the significant relationship between food and health. Participants in these shows were often overweight and suffered from various health complaints linked to poor dietary choices. McKeith analyzed participants' food diaries, revealing the shocking effects of their food choices on their bodies. The Gillian McKeith program is unique. The weight loss is a side effect to all the wonderful changes that take place in the body.
The program also offered a Personal Health Profile included in your membership. The assessment for the Personal Health Profile is actually carried out by Nutritionist.
"Fat Families": Controversy and Lasting Impact
"Fat Families," which aired in 2010, took a more confrontational approach to weight loss. Hosted by Steve Miller, the show involved Miller spending time with overweight families, educating them about diet and exercise, and then giving them a couple of months to lose weight. Miller's approach was often considered "no-nonsense," but his insults and fat-shaming tactics sparked controversy.
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Eileen Haddrell and Tarnya Cuff, participants in the show, had mixed experiences. Cuff applied to be on Fat Families because she was “desperate” - in November 2008, she slipped, broke her leg and dislocated her ankle; immobile while recovering, she gained three stone. Haddrell applied in order to have access to dieticians, personal trainers and doctors.
While some participants, like Darrel Parker, enjoyed the competitive aspect of the show, others, like Cuff, were negatively affected by the language used and the show's impact on their families. Cuff says her “biggest regret” is that the show’s lasting impact on her eldest son, who was filmed bringing her the crisps. Two former Fat Families participants declined to be interviewed because of the impact the show had on their lives. “On reading your message I actually felt sick to the pit of my stomach,” one wrote. “That show can only be described as social suicide… It made my children’s lives a living nightmare.” Another wrote: “The program still haunts us as it continues to be shown 12 years on.
Despite some negative experiences, Haddrell says that overall the show was a “positive experience” for her family. Overall, the crew member felt that participants and crew had “a good relationship”, but at times the show “edged into shaming territory”. Cuff lost around five stone on Fat Families, but afterwards gained back eight and a half stone. Haddrell also gradually gained back the weight she lost on the show, and wishes she had been offered aftercare so the results were sustainable.
The show's producers were accused of "dialling up" the amount contestants ate, encouraging them to consume excessive amounts of food for dramatic effect. While a crew member felt that producers did truly want to help participants and have a “positive effect” on lives, they acknowledged that the show sometimes "edged into shaming territory".
"Supersize vs Superskinny": Extreme Eating Lifestyles
"Supersize vs Superskinny" was a British television programme on Channel 4 that featured information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. The show featured a weekly comparison between an overweight person, and an underweight person. The overweight person swapped diets with the underweight person. The "supersizer" was sent to meet a woman named Lisa, whose obesity had meant that she could no longer care for herself and was receiving an operation because of her weight. In later series, the "supersizer" was sent to the United States to visit someone that was heavier than they were.
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The programme has been the subject of criticism and debate, surrounding its portrayal of eating disorders to a potentially vulnerable audience, and its influence towards public attitudes on eating disorders. Clare Stephens, in an opinion piece written for MamaMia in 2022, expressed concern over the body shaming behaviours exhibited by the "superskinny" subjects of the programme towards their "supersize" counterparts, along with the behaviours of Christian Jessen, concluding that "at best, the show did a lot to confuse audiences about the relationships between eating and exercise and health and weight. At worst, it put its audience at risk of the vast manifestations of disordered eating that can emerge from distorted beliefs around eating, shape and weight. Niamh Langton of The Oxford Blue, speaking of the "subliminal damage" caused by Supersize vs Superskinny and similar programming, stated of the show in 2021: "in its new, easily consumed form, we see the unrelenting shame which makes the show so popular. Shame, humiliation and self-loathing are the active ingredients. Shows like Supersize vs Superskinny presume that weight is something we can totally control, but weight is a characteristic, and not a behaviour. It is too easy to be drawn into such an over-simplification of weight-loss; a narrative that is neither helpful nor accurate. Regardless of what its creators may argue in its defence, Supersize vs Superskinny, as it exists on YouTube, holds no positive, constructive message. In watching each short clip or full episode, we expose ourselves to harmful content. Such viewing habits become a guilty pleasure.
"Around The World in Eighty Weighs": Exploring Global Diets
"Around The World in Eighty Weighs" took a different approach by exploring the diets of other cultures. Susan, a participant from Kettering, Northamptonshire, said starring on a weight-loss television programme has proved "life changing". The series follows six obese people from Britain as they travel the globe to learn about the diets of other cultures.
Susan praised the discipline of Japanese people and their cuisine, which she has adopted into her own diet since coming home. Continuing to eat the fermented foods she discovered in Japan, such as kimchi, made her feel "20 years younger", she said. "I don't have my menopausal symptoms anymore… I sleep like a baby, I have so much energy that I'm quite annoying at the moment," she added. She revealed she lost about two stone (12.7kg) during the filming of the show and a further two stone since it wrapped.
The Effectiveness and Ethics of Weight Loss Shows
The effectiveness of weight loss shows in promoting long-term weight loss is questionable. A study of former contestants from the US show "The Biggest Loser" found that most had regained a significant amount of weight lost during the competition. The study also suggested that the "large, sustained increases in physical activity" on the show slowed contestants' metabolic rates in the long term.
Moreover, the ethics of some weight loss shows have come under scrutiny. The use of fat-shaming tactics, the potential for exploitation and manipulation, and the lack of aftercare for participants have all raised concerns. While some participants report positive experiences, others have suffered negative psychological and emotional consequences.
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A Changing Landscape?
Despite the controversies, dieting shows have persisted on British television. Recent shows, such as the revived "You Are What You Eat," have promised a more scientific and empathetic approach. However, the legacy of earlier shows continues to spark debate about the responsible and ethical portrayal of weight loss on television.