FAT People Losing Weight On TV

imme

Why is TV obsessed with programmes about FAT people losing weight.

I for one have no desire to see such a thing.

What about you?

Hande hoche!

It makes the masses feel better about themselves.

The Davestator

A high percentage of people in this country are obese - they're tuning in to even fatter people than them.

Poor Craythur

imme wrote: »

I for one have no desire to see such a thing.

Feel bad saying this but me neither.

Hande hoche! wrote: »

It makes the masses feel better about themselves.

Grain of truth right here.


I have successfully lost weight in the past and was a complete lone ranger about the whole thing (by choice). I don't go in for all that motivational "You can do it" BS, I was very determined to go it alone. Though, I should point out I was never obese to start with, unlike the people on these types of shows.

Max Power1

This kind of programming is a fat load of nonsense imo


/gets coat

chicken fingers

This thread will descend into anti-fat comments getting bashed but thanked by the massed, and the fatties thanking the anti-anti-fat comments.

Poor Craythur

chicken fingers wrote: »

This thread will descend into anti-fat comments getting bashed but thanked by the massed, and the fatties thanking the anti-anti-fat comments.

Maybe, but being anti programmes like these isn't being anti-fat. Many of these shows are humiliating for the contestants. Operation Transformation isn't too bad though. Still don't know why anyone would choose to lose weight with the public glare on them. If that's what you need to get motivated, what will happen when the cameras are no longer there?

Hande hoche!

Personally I blame Elaine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA0s953iQYE

Cybertron85

People love to watch fat/ugly/deformed/sick people on telly, makes that big potato nose seem a little easier to look at in the mirror.


Without pretending to be on a high horse I can honestly say I don't watch trash like that.

Mr Benevolent

OP, why are you capitalising the word 'fat'? Is it some sort of acronym you've made up?

In answer to your question, it's do make people feel better about their weight problems. Can't weight for the next anorexia-based TV show*.

*Not really.

TeddyTedson

I saw the overweight RTE show during the week. It's so stupid. This morbidly obese people trying to lose 2-3lbs a week. The show isn't even educating people. Diets are not a solution, you need to completely change your way of life for ever. Then there are shows that show the latest exercise that worked for some celebrity and people try them for 2 weeks, get no results out of it and give up.
Also tuning in to watch a tv show about fat people not doing all that much is just utterly crap, boring and pointless tv.

Sunnyisland

im me wrote: »

Why is TV obsessed with programmes about FAT people losing weight.

I for one have no desire to see such a thing.

What about you?

As it costs millions of euros to help people who are obese and a lot of them sit around and watch tv & most of them millions comes from the tax payer it is in the country's interests that we have a better & healthier society.:D

orourkeda

imme wrote: »

Why is TV obsessed with programmes about FAT people losing weight.

I for one have no desire to see such a thing.

What about you?

Don't watch it then

messymess

Man, the funniest thing I saw on Operation Transformation was lastweek ... they had a "personal trainer" on it that took part in the previous season's show. She was still fat, like proper fat ... I couldn't believe it. I actually burst out laughing! Only in Ireland could someone call themselfs a personal trainer and still be the size of a ****ing whale.

Shenshen

Lowest common demoninator.
The masses like to see things that make them feel better about themselves, and allow them to feel superior to what they see on telly.

That's why there are shows about fat people struggling to lose weight and travellers getting married at 14 in ridiculous outfits. People can sit back and feel happy that while they couldn't spell "ridiculous" or "obese" if their lives depended on it, at least they're not as fat as those guys. A warm, comforting feeling of smugness.

Shenshen

messymess wrote: »

Man, the funniest thing I saw on Operation Transformation was lastweek ... they had a "personal trainer" on it that took part in the previous season's show. She was still fat, like proper fat ... I couldn't believe it. I actually burst out laughing! Only in Ireland could someone call themselfs a personal trainer and still be the size of a ****ing whale.

In a country with an obese minister for health, what would you expect?

LETHAL LADY

messymess wrote: »

Man, the funniest thing I saw on Operation Transformation was lastweek ... they had a "personal trainer" on it that took part in the previous season's show. She was still fat, like proper fat ... I couldn't believe it. I actually burst out laughing! Only in Ireland could someone call themselfs a personal trainer and still be the size of a ****ing whale.

In fairness she was not the size of a ****ing whale.

Poor Craythur

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

In fairness she was not the size of a ****ing whale.

I saw the show last week and don't know who he is talking about. There was a contestant from the first series but I don't ever recall her saying she was personal trainer? Did she say that, and am I remembering it wrong?

Bodhidharma

TV has become infatuated with one thing - HUMILIATION

The general public have a perverse attraction to seeing people humiliated on tv. Whether its borderline mentally unstable people on The X Factor, shows about physical 'freaks', morbidly obese people, people who have filthy homes or who cant do simple things e.g. Britain's worst driver/cook/parents etc.

I think TV gives a good insight into the mentality of a society and quite frankly, judging by what people watch, society has become mean, aggresive and selfish.

messymess

Poor Craythur wrote: »

I saw the show last week and don't know who he is talking about. There was a contestant from the first series but I don't ever recall her saying she was personal trainer? Did she say that, and am I remembering it wrong?

".... qualified as a personal trainer"

http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1091254

3:40 - 4:30

Orla K

I don't have a tv but I do love those fat shows. The best one was supersize vrs superskinny. I love it when it shows what they eat during the week.

Other than that I watch shows like House and QI (yeah, I love stephen fry and hugh laurie), documentries but mostly whatever other people put on in their houses, which is were I watch the fatties.

Guilty pleaure really.

marxcoo

messymess wrote: »

Man, the funniest thing I saw on Operation Transformation was lastweek ... they had a "personal trainer" on it that took part in the previous season's show. She was still fat, like proper fat ... I couldn't believe it. I actually burst out laughing! Only in Ireland could someone call themselfs a personal trainer and still be the size of a ****ing whale.

ya she was the "size of a whale" - I'm surprised she fit on the tv screen :rolleyes: in all fairness

Minstrel27

messymess wrote: »

Only in Ireland could someone call themselfs a personal trainer and still be the size of a ****ing whale.

Probably not only in Ireland.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/fashion/thursdaystyles/01FITNESS.html

It's a big world out there.

Jimmy Bottlehead

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Probably not only in Ireland.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/fashion/thursdaystyles/01FITNESS.html

It's a big world out there.

There's a line inthat article that points out how ridiculous fat personal trainers and gym staff are - going to a fat personal trainer is like going to a mechanic with a broken down car, or a financial advisor living in poverty.

As stated, most people are either fat or just unfit, so seeing these extra-fat people makes them feel less disgusted with themselves.

phasers

I think the programmes are totally unhealthy, they push people too hard and don't encourage them in any way. Some fella lost a stone and a half in one week on one of those programmes. That can't be healthy!

And once they get back home it'd be impossible to keep up that kind of strict regime, so the weight would pile back on. There needs to be aftercare involved.


(Watching fatties struggle to run 10 miles while being screamed at by a skinny, smug woman is really boring too, but someone's obviously watching)

Handsome Bob

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

In fairness she was not the size of a ****ing whale.

Welcome to the internet where everyone exagerrates and they themselves are an adonis.

joe stodge

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I saw the overweight RTE show during the week. It's so stupid. This morbidly obese people trying to lose 2-3lbs a week. The show isn't even educating people. Diets are not a solution, you need to completely change your way of life for ever. Then there are shows that show the latest exercise that worked for some celebrity and people try them for 2 weeks, get no results out of it and give up.
Also tuning in to watch a tv show about fat people not doing all that much is just utterly crap, boring and pointless tv.

Firstly the name of the show is OPERATION TRANSFORMATION - and it's definatly a tansformation for these people. If you actually paid any attention to the show you would have realised that it is about changing their way of life and educating the people on the show and viewers interested. If you watched the show from the start (6 weeks ago) you would have seen the change in all people involved. I'm on said show and am finding it the best diet for me and the support from everyone is brilliant. I have lost a huge amount of weight, which I would still be carrying if it wasn't for the show.

If the show doesn't tickle your fancy -then don't watch it, save your energy and complain about something else!

Dudess

Shenshen wrote: »

Lowest common demoninator.
The masses like to see things that make them feel better about themselves, and allow them to feel superior to what they see on telly.

That's why there are shows about fat people struggling to lose weight and travellers getting married at 14 in ridiculous outfits. People can sit back and feel happy that while they couldn't spell "ridiculous" or "obese" if their lives depended on it, at least they're not as fat as those guys. A warm, comforting feeling of smugness.

I find your post looking down on "the masses" rather ironic.
I agree though that those programmes are likely watched by overweight people (from all walks of life) as they relate to them or it makes them feel better about their own situations. My mum and a friend of mine fecking love them. Neither are obese but both are a bit overweight (about size 14 and 14-16).
I think those shows seem awful - and the weight-loss programmes dodgy (weight loss is much, much too quick) and unsustainable in ordinary situations. As someone else here said, what do they do when the cameras stop rolling and they're left to their own devices? I heard of a British kid who lost 15 stone on one of those boot camp TV shows in the U.S. - she returned to Britain and put all the weight back on and more.
That said though, I know of someone embarking on weight loss in a very public way (Facebook, Twitter etc, backed by a gym) and she says it was not an easy decision but the best way to motivate herself and there's far less likelihood of her slipping when she's under the spotlight.

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

There's a line inthat article that points out how ridiculous fat personal trainers and gym staff are - going to a fat personal trainer is like going to a mechanic with a broken down car, or a financial advisor living in poverty.

It's ironic all right, but in my opinion, once they do their job well, that's ultimately all that matters if you're paying them and looking for a good product/service.
I didn't see that programme but I've no doubt the comment about the now personal trainer being "like a whale" means she's size 14. Actually, if anyone is gonna know a good deal about fitness, it's someone who has lost several stone via healthy eating and exercise, even if they're not slim yet.

Dudess

phasers wrote: »

Some fella lost a stone and a half in one week on one of those programmes. That can't be healthy!

Although if a person, especially a man, is REALLY obese, there is actually scope at the start of a weight-loss programme for a huge amount of weight to be lost in a short period of time - due to the drastic change. But yeah, that pace shouldn't last long, yet on those shows, it's sustained over several weeks.

My name is URL

For every 1 morbidly obese person there are 100,000 morbidly curious viewers

macquarie

Does anyone else find it hilarious that one of the women on operation transformation this year owns a cake shop ?

Kasabian

macquarie wrote: »

Does anyone else find it hilarious that one of the women on operation transformation this year owns a cake shop ?

I would love to own a cake shop.

TaraFoxglove

Bodhidharma wrote: »

I think TV gives a good insight into the mentality of a society and quite frankly, judging by what people watch, society has become mean, aggresive and selfish.

No, it was always mean and aggressive. These shows are the modern day equivalent of paying to laugh at patients in the lunatic asylum in Victorian times.

Cat Melodeon

macquarie wrote: »

Does anyone else find it hilarious that one of the women on operation transformation this year owns a cake shop ?

Not really. It's kind of obvious that a hectic personal life & a successful business selling tasty treats has contributed to her putting on weight in the first place.

dickwod1

It suits people to watch this early in the new year because of "new year resolutions" which are normally either losing weight or giving up smokes and a show about giving up smokes would get pretty boring

TeddyTedson

joe stodge wrote: »

Firstly the name of the show is OPERATION TRANSFORMATION - and it's definatly a tansformation for these people. If you actually paid any attention to the show you would have realised that it is about changing their way of life and educating the people on the show and viewers interested. If you watched the show from the start (6 weeks ago) you would have seen the change in all people involved. I'm on said show and am finding it the best diet for me and the support from everyone is brilliant. I have lost a huge amount of weight, which I would still be carrying if it wasn't for the show.

If the show doesn't tickle your fancy -then don't watch it, save your energy and complain about something else!

Granted, my earlier post was a bit rushed and overly critical. However, from what I've seen, the show is very easy going in my opinion. I have a very black and white view exercise and it's not rocket science understanding how to lose or gain weight.
I'm criticizing the show from the point of view that it complicates things for an unaware viewer looking at the show for tips on losing weight. Showing each contestants diet for the week for example, to allow others to replicate it. Why not just emphasize what foods are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, ect and explain what a persons daily calorie intake should be, and drill this home. Fair enough I haven't seen the whole series of the show so you could argue that my argument doesn't hold much weight (excuse the pun before someone points this out) but this is how I feel after seeing an episode.
Good for you that you're on the show and I wish you all the best on achieving your fitness goals, however you said the huge amount of weight you've lost, you'd still be carrying if you weren't on the show. I think this is a problem, too many people want to be pushed into getting in shape rather than using their own initiative. I'm going to presume that you watched previous series of said show before appearing on it, so did other series of watching said show lead you into living an new active lifestyle, evidently not.
Anyway good luck with it, and I hope you are still achieving your goals this time next year when the show is all over and done with.

messymess

LZ5by5 wrote: »

Welcome to the internet where everyone exagerrates and they themselves are an adonis.

Sorry, what was that? I'm oiling up my six pack here

Shenshen

Dudess wrote: »

I find your post looking down on "the masses" rather ironic.
I agree though that those programmes are likely watched by overweight people (from all walks of life) as they relate to them or it makes them feel better about their own situations. My mum and a friend of mine fecking love them. Neither are obese but both are a bit overweight (about size 14 and 14-16).
I think those shows seem awful - and the weight-loss programmes dodgy (weight loss is much, much too quick) and unsustainable in ordinary situations. As someone else here said, what do they do when the cameras stop rolling and they're left to their own devices? I heard of a British kid who lost 15 stone on one of those boot camp TV shows in the U.S. - she returned to Britain and put all the weight back on and more.
That said though, I know of someone embarking on weight loss in a very public way (Facebook, Twitter etc, backed by a gym) and she says it was not an easy decision but the best way to motivate herself and there's far less likelihood of her slipping when she's under the spotlight.

I am obese, and struggling with it, and I find these shows simply sickening. I don't watch them, but you bet that all the office does and will talk about them.
And judging from the comments I heard from my co-workers about these shows, the smugness is most certainly the top reason why they do watch them.

dolphin city

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I saw the overweight RTE show during the week. It's so stupid. This morbidly obese people trying to lose 2-3lbs a week. The show isn't even educating people. Diets are not a solution, you need to completely change your way of life for ever. Then there are shows that show the latest exercise that worked for some celebrity and people try them for 2 weeks, get no results out of it and give up.
Also tuning in to watch a tv show about fat people not doing all that much is just utterly crap, boring and pointless tv.

:D the experts are trying to get these people to lose weight by getting them out doing exercise, yet they expect people to sit in and watch the programme.

(Watching fatties struggle to run 10 miles while being screamed at by a skinny, smug woman is really boring too, but someone's obviously watching)

Yeah it's not really entertaining and one of the women on it is such an unpleasant sounding bully. Not that I have watched much.
Then she blames everything on cheese
"but i have just eaten within my allowance of it..."
"NO MORE CHEESE"
:rolleyes:


I liked supersize vs superskinny, it at least had some balance and sometimes one of the women would try out crash diets and give a frank opinion. Plus they werent as aggressive

If someone was yelling at me to move it move it I'd tell them to f* off and head home

Irish Guitarist

Change The Day You Die on RTE isn't bad. The makers seem to be trying to be informative rather than laughing at people. I wouldn't really have any interest in watching it but it might help someone out. I think it's a documentary whereas the other ones are entertainment.

The likes of You Are What You Eat sickens me. She expects someone that lives on junk food to just eat healthy food of a sudden. If they say to her "I ate a chocolate eclair yesterday" she goes berserk. I hate the way she piles a weeks worth of food on a table then throws it out. It's a terrible waste. It may be junk food but it would keep some hungry, homeless people alive. I hate the way she smells someones faeces and says "your poo stinks!". What the hell does she expect? Did she think it was going to smell of lavender?

Canis Lupus

marxcoo wrote: »

ya she was the "size of a whale" - I'm surprised she fit on the tv screen :rolleyes: in all fairness

That PT is fat. Size of a whale fat? No, but definitely fat nevertheless.

Orando Broom

imme wrote: »

Why is TV obsessed with programmes about FAT people losing weight.

I for one have no desire to see such a thing.

What about you?

It's the worst place for them to start considering the television adds ten pounds.

glengirlie

The concept of OT is ok, but RTE have it all wrong this season. Why do they feel we need to see the members of the overpaid army bully the 6 people into running up a hill with a log or some other ridiculaous exercise every week during a very depressing time in the country. It is stupid imo! Then to add insult to injury you have skinny malinny Kathyrn Thomas presenting it and she's like oh dear you didnt reach it. Seriously like, what a way to kick you when you are down. In addition to overpayin the presenters on RTE this is where the TV Licence money is going on making stuff that does not boost us as a nation. Something like "At Your Service" is ideal, as its fun lively and you cant but laugh at Francis and his toilet roll or whatever he is on about I wish the ppl on OT all the best, they are very brave to do this but the editing on it just makes me cringe as it is the worst possible events of their lives that are showcased, they are very brave and indeed other people on weight loss shows-however I do not believe in dieting or the like and destest the term "morbidly obese".

Captain_Generic

macquarie wrote: »

Does anyone else find it hilarious that one of the women on operation transformation this year owns a cake shop ?

I know a girl who looks almost anorexic and her hobby is baking cakes day in day out, she's crazy though, crazy as a bag of ferrets in a dryer

df1985

Shows like the biggest loser are ridiculous, theyre there to lsoe weight but they make a circus out of it,tempting them with chocolates and the likes. I remember reading a thing about the american version and a lot of contestants put the weight back on and then some after the show ended. The crazy weight losses they see each week arent sustainable.

the_syco

FAT People Losing Weight On TV

Jebus. If a fat person was on my TV, the TV would probably break under the weight :pac:

chin_grin

<Homer on treadmill>

Scully: "The jiggling..............it's..............hypnotic."

ncmc

df1985 wrote: »

Shows like the biggest loser are ridiculous, theyre there to lsoe weight but they make a circus out of it,tempting them with chocolates and the likes. I remember reading a thing about the american version and a lot of contestants put the weight back on and then some after the show ended. The crazy weight losses they see each week arent sustainable.

That's true about The Biggest Loser, but to be fair to Operation Transformation, they don't advocate unsustainable weight loss, the emphasis is on educating people on how to eat and exercise and for them to lose weight slowly. It's also aimed at people following at home and so all the recipes are easy to follow and the leaders are only allowed do exercise that anybody could do at home ie no specialist equipment required. In fact, one of the guys got in trouble a few weeks ago for doing more than his programmed exercise.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who find these kind of shows inspirational. Not everyone has the time to go to the gym or analyse their food for the exact ratio of protein to carbs, and so shows like OT, where everything is easily laid out for them are bound to be helpful. It isn't designed to be a quick fix, it's trying to change peoples attitudes and lifestyles.

And as a previous poster said, if you don't like the show OP, just turn away!

Poor Craythur

bluewolf wrote: »

I liked supersize vs superskinny, it at least had some balance and sometimes one of the women would try out crash diets and give a frank opinion. Plus they werent as aggressive

No, I found it just as bad as the rest. Balance? Getting them to swap diets even thought neither had a healthy diet to start with, so they're just switching from one unhealthy diet to another. What's balanced about that? It would be better to move them both to a healthier diet for the week.

ncmc

Poor Craythur wrote: »

No, I found it just as bad as the rest. Balance? Getting them to swap diets even neither had a healthy diet to start with, so they're just switching from one healthy diet to another. What's balanced about that? It would be better to move them both to a healthier diet for the week.

+1, I only watched this show once, and it was with horror that I did. It
is such an unhealthy idea. Not to mention the psychological damage it must do these people (who obviously have serious issues with food) forcing one person to starve and another to gorge, I just can't comprehend what the creators were thinking!