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To: USA Network, Sponsors: Garmim , General Mills, Subway,Planet Fitness, Jennie-O

Let’s Cancel The Biggest Loser New Season

We are asking that USA Network and sponsors cancel Season 16 of The Biggest Loser.
Sponsors:
Garmim
General Mills
Subway
Planet Fitness
Jennie-O

Why is this important?

This show caused so much harm to the health of contestants and viewers alike by perpetuating weight stigma. Since the show went off the air, we have research related to how weight stigma and yo yo dieting actually harms people in larger bodies. Additionally there is research from prior Biggest Loser contestants indicating long term negative effects:
Participants not only gained the weight back due to a slowing of the metabolism but that participants had increased leptin levels that causes extreme hunger: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.html

From The National Association of Eating Disorders:
“Weight stigma, also known as weight bias or weight-based discrimination, is discrimination or stereotyping based on a person's weight. Weight stigma can increase body dissatisfaction, a leading risk factor in the development of eating disorders.” https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/weight-stigma

From Abbys Kitchen:
DANGEROUS SECRETS FROM THE BIGGEST LOSER & MY PETITION TO MAKE IT STOP
“A study published in the Journal of Obesity suggested that watching even one episode of the Biggest Loser increased hateful weight bias among viewers! This is particularly concerning to me when there are children watching, as it’s easy to sense and duplicate the disgust for fatness when they see it in their peers or even themselves.”https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/nutrition-dangerous-secrets-biggest-loser-my-petition-make-i/

From Today’s Dietitian:
January 2018 Issue

The Health Impact of Weight Stigma
By Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN, CD
Today's Dietitian
Vol. 20, No. 1, P. 24

“The health risks of weight discrimination are consistent with the observed effects of racial discrimination.8,35”

Being the target of weight stigma increases the risk of poor mental health outcomes,36 including depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and eating disorders. These associations happen regardless of BMI, so it's unlikely that body weight itself is a cause.8”

“Harrison says. "The majority of the clients I've treated for disordered eating cite bullying or shaming for their weight by parents, peers, coaches, or health care professionals as the initial trigger for their issues with food."
https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/0118p24.shtml

Category

Updates

2020-01-19 11:46:39 -0500

1,000 signatures reached

2020-01-12 22:40:28 -0500

500 signatures reached

2020-01-12 11:00:50 -0500

100 signatures reached

2020-01-12 08:30:52 -0500

50 signatures reached

2020-01-12 02:26:02 -0500

25 signatures reached

2020-01-10 23:48:16 -0500

10 signatures reached