Tv category

Biggest Loser Winner Crowned

Posted: Wednesday, 26 May, 2010 | Categories: obesity, weight loss, TV

The American version of The Biggest Loser has come to a close, with Michael Ventrella winning the champion’s crown.

He is the ninth winner of the program and has walked away with $250,000. The 30-year-old DJ, from Chicago, was the program’s heaviest ever contestant at the start, weighing in at 526lb. By the end pf the series, he had gone down to 262 lb.

The total weight loss of 264lb, or 50.19%, was a spectacular drop. Michael says that when he entered the ranch where the contestants live for the duration of the program, he knew he needed to save his life.

He said, “The only way to do that was to bare all. I left everything I loved, everything I hated – I had to get over it. I dedicated myself so much. I had to reach a place inside me I didn’t think existed. Even to this day, I don’t feel like I’m done yet. I’m going to keep going.”

The show has faced a fair amount of criticism for the extreme methods they used, with past contestants saying that they would routinely starve themselves or not drink in order to meet their targets at the weigh in.

Past winner Ryan C Benson said that he became so dehydrated that at one point he was urinated blood, while medical professionals have expressed grave concerns, with one, Dr. Charles Burant of the University of Michigan, saying that he was ‘waiting for the first person to have a heart attack’.

However the producers say that they take health very seriously and that the wellbeing of contestants is carefully monitored.

Either way, it seems America loves watching the obese lose weight and the show has routinely been a ratings winner for station NBC.