The Greatest Loser turned a cultural phenomenon when it premiered in 2004 — however the present has been plagued with scandals and controversy as nicely.
When NBC launched the present, it adopted a gaggle of individuals deemed obese who would compete in a 30-week competitors. The purpose was to lose as many kilos as attainable to be topped “the most important loser,” however with that got here backlash.
Some viewers questioned how contestants have been allegedly pushed to drop extra pounds by intense train and calorie-restricted diets. Producers — and trainers — who labored on the present denied the accusations, which have been explored in Netflix's August 2025 docuseries Match for TV: The Actuality of the Greatest Loser.
“I'll stand behind all the things that I've ever performed on that present,” coach Bob Harper mentioned in a Match for TV confessional. “I'm happy with what I've performed.”
Not everybody concerned with the present participated within the tell-all. Jillian Michaels was notably lacking, although a message concerning the coach's absence was issued on the finish, studying, “Jillian Michaels declined to take part on this documentary.”
Preserve scrolling for a breakdown of the scandals and controversy associated to The Greatest Loser:
Weight Loss Objectives
Every season began with a weigh-in to find out the place to begin for every contestant. From there, the individuals would participate in complete exercise and vitamin plans. There have been additionally challenges launched to encourage weight reduction earlier than one other weigh-in.
The largest concern on the time got here from medical professionals who spoke out about how protected weight reduction is between 1 and a couple of kilos per week. Whereas doctor Robert Huizenga was concerned within the present, he revealed in Netflix's tell-all that his perception wasn't all the time applied since contestants have been shedding greater than 10 kilos per week — and typically as much as 20 to 30 kilos.
A disclaimer was issued on the finish of each episode of the present.
“Our contestants have been supervised by docs whereas collaborating within the present, and their weight loss program and train routine was tailor-made to their medical standing and their particular wants,” learn the assertion. “Seek the advice of with your personal physician earlier than embarking on any weight loss program or train program.”
Going Too Far
After The Greatest Loser skyrocketed to success, a number of former contestants spoke out concerning the lengths they went to drop extra pounds. Ryan C. Benson recalled fasting and dehydrating himself whereas Kai Hibbard instructed The New York Instances that she and different contestants wouldn't drink water and would discover methods to additional their weight reduction.
Danny Cahill, Joelle Gwynn, Dr. Jen Kerns, Suzanne Mendonca, Olivia Ward, Tracey Yukich and Hannah Younger have been interviewed for Match for TV, during which most of them expressed points with their time on the present. (Clips from varied seasons confirmed contestants having medical emergencies and experiencing well being scares whereas filming the present.)
Lots of the former contestants and winners revealed that they struggled to take care of their weight reduction long-term after showing on The Greatest Loser, and a few opened up about weighing extra after being on the present than earlier than.
Coffeegate
Throughout a 2013 episode of the present, Michaels was accused on the present of dishonest by permitting her staff to take caffeine tablets with out physician's permission. “I stand by my opinion,” she mentioned on the time. “A caffeine complement is considerably more healthy than limitless quantities of espresso.”
The present publicly acknowledged that caffeine tablets have been utilized in violation of its personal guidelines, and Michaels was reprimanded on display screen.
Whereas Michaels stood by her resolution on the present, she extra lately mirrored on what she felt ought to have been performed otherwise. She instructed Immediately Well being in 2021 that The Greatest Loser “wanted a psychological well being skilled” to higher assist the contestants.
“I feel there was some random man they might discuss to in the event that they wanted, however these individuals wanted deep work,” she defined. “When you've got somebody that weighs 400 kilos, that's not simply a person who likes pizza. There's an entire lot occurring there emotionally.”
Michaels made it clear that she wouldn't take again how she approached the present.
“Those I yelled at are those that stored it off,” she argued. “You want them to really feel the ache of the best way they've been dwelling. You want them to have a all-time low second the place they're like, ‘I can't take yet one more second.'”
Michaels concluded: “The weight loss program labored wonderful. You eat much less, you progress extra, and there you go. The contestants who have been unsuccessful once they went dwelling, that they had unresolved points with meals.”
Hannah Jiles, Janelle Brown and extra actuality TV personalities have been candid about dropping pounds since showing on digicam. Hannah, for her half, often mentioned physique positivity throughout Love Is Blind season 7, which aired in October 2024. “I've all the time struggled with my weight, my complete life. Whether or not I used to be skinny or whether or not I used to be […]
Rachel Frederickson's Transformation
Season 15, which aired in 2013, was notorious for its finale during which winner Frederickson walked out and the trainers reacted in horror at her vital weight reduction. After getting into the present at 260 kilos, Frederickson was 105 kilos on the finale however regained 20 kilos later amid public concern.
“My shallowness as soon as once more was affected by different individuals's voices — this time, the type that reside eternally in Fb posts or written within the pages of magazines,” she wrote in an essay in 2014.
Formal Investigation
The New York Put up revealed an exposé in 2016 with quotes from Gwynn and Mendonca concerning the challenges that got here with being on the present and the aftermath. The report famous that California authorities have been trying into allegations that The Greatest Loser had been doping contestants.
NBC dismissed these allegations on the time, and there was no formal investigation. Netflix's docuseries famous that “nobody concerned with the present has confronted legal prices for distributing the unlawful substances alleged within the New York Put up.”
‘Match for TV' Docuseries
In August 2025, a Netflix docuseries featured interviews with former contestants, host Alison Sweeney and producers about what went on behind the scenes. Some individuals revealed they've continued to battle with disordered consuming and psychological well being points since their time on The Greatest Loser.
There have been additionally updates on whether or not the contestants gained again the load they misplaced on the present. Gwynn and Mendonca particularly spoke about their resolution to make use of Ozempic to assist drop extra pounds and curb their starvation.
