In the new Netflix docuseries Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser , former contestants weigh the pros and cons of participating in the hit reality show , which awarded a cash prize to the person who lost the most weight during each season. On air from 2004 to 2016—and again in 2020—the show often pushed contestants to their limits with extreme exercise stunts designed to create drama for a reality TV audience.

Over three episodes, producers open up about how they made an engaging TV show out of the seemingly mundane challenge of weight loss, while former contestants recall the physically grueling and often verbally intense nature of the fitness regimes they endured. Here’s a look at some of the most shocking details.

What drew contestants to The Biggest Loser

David Broome,

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