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Is ‘Biggest Loser’-Style Weight Loss Healthy?

By WTOP Staff

The scream-at-desperate-people television juggernaut known as ” The Biggest Loser” sure doesn’t look like much fun. That is unless, of course, you’re into exercising until you vomit, denying yourself the ability to ever use food for comfort or celebration, and using the scale to determine your self-worth and happiness. No doubt though, given the incredible losses seen on the show, some viewers will wonder whether or not it’s all worth it. To answer that question, two more need to be asked. Firstly, do the “Biggest Loser” contestants maintain their losses, and secondly, is “Biggest Loser”-style losing healthful?

As far as maintaining their losses, unfortunately there is no registry of “Biggest Loser” contestants to reference. That said, of the six contestants I’ve personally interviewed, each of them stated that 75 or more of their former contestants have regained their weights. One contestant also asserted that among those who do keep their weights off, many do so by means of post-show bariatric surgery.

[Read: Weight-Loss Surgery: A Cure for the Morbidly Obese? ]

And what of health? “The Biggest Loser” positions itself to suggest to viewers that the lifestyle espoused by it is worthy of aspiration — and of course, of spending. Plainly, if you too want to live like the folks on “The Biggest Loser,” you can do so by means of purchasing a “Biggest Loser” book, joining an online “Biggest Loser” weight loss service, or even heading over to a “Biggest Loser”-branded residential weight loss program. But should you? Perhaps not if you value your health, as a recent study has confirmed that “Biggest Loser”-style weight loss has an awful impact on a person’s metabolism.

The study, published ahead of print in the journal Obesity, confirms what an earlier study had already reported — that losing weight “Biggest Loser”-style destroys the loser’s metabolism. This current study compared the impact “The Biggest Loser” had on participants’ metabolisms versus the impact gastric bypasses had on a case-matched group’s metabolisms.

[See: 7 Mind-Blowing Benefits of Exercise.]

For the Losers, the results aren’t pretty. Though they, like the surgical patients, did lose more than 30 percent of their presenting weights, their metabolisms took a huge hit. While it’s wholly expected that massive weight loss will unavoidably lead to a slowing of metabolic rate — both consequent to the fact that there’s literally less of these individuals to burn calories and to the fact that the body slows down metabolism in response to weight loss (a phenomenon known as metabolic adaptation) — the Losers’ metabolic slowdowns were much more dramatic than the surgical patients’. When compared with their matched gastric bypass patient controls, whose metabolic slowdowns were in the order of 300 calories/day, Biggest Loser participants’ metabolic slowdowns were more than double.

And the study had more bad news for the Losers. Looking at the hunger hormone leptin, where low levels of leptin would be expected to lead to generate both cravings and hunger, “Biggest Loser” contestants are in big trouble. Their circulating leptin levels, when compared with the circulating leptin levels of those who lost their weight by means of bariatric surgery, are 500 percent lower. Meaning not only do Losers burn fewer calories, but they’re likely to be hungrier as well, and burning fewer calories while simultaneously being hungrier is definitely not a good combination for maintaining weight loss.

[Read: Diet Success Stories: Dieters Reveal How They Hit Their Target Body Weight .]

Perhaps tellingly, the authors of this study, in discussing its limitations, noted: “Limitations of this study include the differing rates of weight loss in the BLC and RYGB groups and the lack of a weight loss maintenance phase to investigate the subjects in a state of energy balance.”

Given the results of the study, and the reports from former contestants, I can’t help but wonder if the reason why there’s a lack of a weight loss maintenance phase to investigate Biggest Loser contestants in a state of energy balance is because for the vast majority of Losers, there is no maintaining these metabolically unhealthy losses.

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Is ‘Biggest Loser’-Style Weight Loss Healthy? originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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