Fit for TV: Why was The Biggest Loser canceled? 

The Biggest Loser dominated television for over a decade before it was cancelled by NBC in 2016. From 2004 until 2016, the show subjected overweight competitors to 30 weeks of gruelling exercises and weigh-ins, all for a chance at $250,000. It was hosted at various times by Alison Sweeney, Bob Harper, and Caroline Rhea and quickly became a ratings powerhouse and a money-making engine for the network.

But behind the success, criticism kept piling up. Viewers and experts criticized the show’s extreme diets and punishing workouts, and Netflix’s new docuseries Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser (out August 15, 2025) brought all those issues back into the spotlight. Former participants reveal what was actually going on, such as not eating, excessive activity, and health hazards that no one saw on television.

Things reached a breaking point in The Biggest Loser Season 15, when champion Rachel Frederickson arrived at the finals weighing only 105 pounds, creating concern among viewers. In 2016, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department began looking into reports that participants were forced to use narcotics. By that point, the show's days were numbered, and its spectacular weigh-ins gained even more notoriety.

Fit for TV: What led to The Biggest Loser’s cancellation?

The Biggest Loser's approach to weight management grew increasingly contentious as specifics regarding competitor treatment emerged. The show forced contestants to subsist on only 800 calories per day while following strenuous fitness regimens.

Contestants faced nearly eight hours of daily exercise under intense trainer supervision. Jillian Michaels became notorious for screaming at participants to create dramatic television moments. The documentary reveals that producers actively encouraged unhealthy behaviors. Former host Bob Harper disclosed that producers wanted contestants to vomit on camera for entertainment value.

Caffeine pills became another concerning element. Some contestants on The Biggest Loser say they were given weight-loss drugs, even though that totally broke the show’s own rules. But it was in Season 15 that things took a dark turn.

Rachel Frederickson, the champion that year, surprised everyone by walking out of the finale weighing just 105 pounds. The jaw-dropping change not only astounded but also terrified the crowd. Even Jillian Michaels, the tough-as-nails trainer who often shouted clients into push-ups, said Rachel seemed "unhealthily thin."

"Rachel came out, and she had lost so much weight," Bob Harper recalled.

He described the entire situation as "shocking," and he was not wrong. Suddenly, everyone from talk programs to dinner tables was addressing the same question: Does reality TV prioritise ratings over the actual persons on screen?

Doctors and health professionals joined in, warning that losing that much weight so rapidly may be quite risky. Things blew up in 2016 when former participants made the most outrageous accusation yet: that producers urged them to utilise weight-loss medicines to lose weight faster.

That prompted the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to take action. A reality show about treadmills and salads had unexpectedly evolved into a police probe. After Season 17 of The Biggest Loser, NBC decided to cancel the show due to widespread criticism and legal issues.

The Biggest Loser’s revival and current status

In 2020, USA Network tried to bring The Biggest Loser back from the dead, this time with “safer” workouts and kinder rules. But the reboot only lasted one season before it disappeared again. Turns out lightning doesn’t always strike twice, especially when it’s on a treadmill.

Trainers were friendlier, menus were less scary, and the program claimed to emphasize "healthy" weight loss. Nonetheless, viewers did not tune in as frequently as they once did, and the remake flopped. Meanwhile, Jillian Michaels, who was the face (and scary voice) of the original, has declined to feature in Netflix's new documentary. Her absence exemplifies how sensitive the topic remains.

The Biggest Loser's narrative now feels more like a warning than a success story. The program was once television goldmine, but between the weigh-ins and dramatic revelations, participant safety was frequently overlooked. The Netflix documentary continues reminding everyone that pursuing ratings with severe weight-loss stunts is not only perilous, but it can also be deadly. So, while the show produced wonderful drama, its legacy is far greater than anybody anticipated.

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Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser is now streaming on Netflix.

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