There is a rising health problem in the United States and that problem is obesity. This past year, in a few states, the obesity rate has gotten as high as 50% of the population which is the highest in history. Even the entertainment industry is noticing and trying to bring awareness of this hardship that so many people have in trying to drop the weight. Currently there are 3 TV programs showing the journey to lose weight for various participants. These shows are focused on trying to inspire more people to try to improve their health by learning to eat right and weigh their portions on a gram scale, exercising and doing a weekly check on weighing scales.
The first show that aired on regular network television several years ago is called The Biggest Loser. It takes participants that are morbidly obese which is a minimum of 100 pounds or more overweight, and teaches them how to lose weight on an exercise intense weight loss program. It also teaches them nutritional facts on how to eat healthy on a lower caloric diet while still feeling satisfied. The amount of weight lost by the contestants on this show is enormous with some shedding more than 20 pounds in the first week. Fitness expert, Jillian Michaels goes against the belief that a person that is so overweight can not do intense exercise and she proves it by making people that are close to 500 pounds go jogging. This show has inspired thousands of Americans to lose weight and keep it off.
The next show is called Ruby and it follows the life of a lady with that name who at one point weighed 700 pounds. It shows her handling with the daily struggles of living as an overweight person most of her life and the basic activities she has not been able to do for over a decade such as drive a car on her own. It also shows the number of professionals it takes to deal with all of the issues that resulted in a person getting to such a high weight in the first place. She has nutritionists that put her on a strict meal plan, fitness trainers to teach her how to exercise, and psychological professionals who are trying to figure out the reasons she ate herself to almost 700 pounds and ways to eliminate that pattern of destruction. Ruby, also has inspired many to take control of their health and lose weight.
The newest program on TV is named One Big Happy Family that follows a family of four that all weigh between 300-400 pounds with 2 kids at the ages of 13 and 16 years old. Two family members seem to want to change while the other 2 don’t seem as ready. It emphasizes the ridicule they get from the public for their weight and how they need to work together as a family to improve their habits.
Reality television shows have tended to mimic society and these 3 shows are an example of the obesity crisis in America. More and more Americans are inspired to lose weight as a result of airing these shows on television.