denigrating the participants allows media and society's elites to avoid confronting the role of the media (yes!!) as well as inequality and a dsyfunctional work/life balancce culture in increasing obesity rates as well as lack of reliable, frequent mass transit to many areas of our cities.

Congratulations, Lydia, on a very sensible article

I agree that it's time the focus was shifted from weight to health - I'm overweight and as you point out, no matter what I consult a medical practitioner about the first thing focused on is my weight. I now reply, 'just as a matter of interest, do thin people ever get this problem?'. To which the answer is always yes. The search for the real issue then begins.

I'm a regular blood donor, and I am now used to hearing the nurse doing the prelims coming out with a surprised 'oh, your blood pressure's fine'. Although I'm technically obese I ride my bicycle to and from work every day and usually go for a longer ride on weekends, I haven't eaten between meals for a number of years and I'm reasonably careful about what I eat and drink. In every respect other than my weight I'm very healthy.

I now follow the motto: 'Live life carefully, but live life well!'

Why do fat people insist on allowing themselves to be treated like fat idiots?

I know Lydia. It's all about people being bullied and beguiled. But lets cut to the chase here. The Biggest Loser is about entertainment. Is it right that we pick on fat people, midgets (the height challenged), single mums, the poor, blacks, the Amish? I have no idea. Is it a matter of rights? Not really. It's a matter of taste.

If the contestants were force marched on to the show with Mahler playing in the background and made to dig their own graves, I'd probably say 'enough is enough'.

This is a hard argument to win because the Biggest Loser, for all of its crassness, does make people think about their weight problems. The fact that they put the contestants through a regime that might kill them is incidental. In marketing terms that's called a 'unique selling point'. Still though I admire the forthrightness your article.

I have an idea for a show along the lines of the Biggest Loser. It would be hosted by Melinda Tankard Reist and the anti-abortion lobby. Women who wanted abortion would have to wrestle Melinda and Cardinal Pell in a three way, no holds barred, live TV spectacular. Eddie McGuire to compare. Now that's entertainment!

Cheryl you just said picking on black people is "a matter of taste." WTF?

Let's just do away with all discrimination laws while we're here, shall we ?

You do realise that people who are oppressed often end up internalising the values of those in power. The Biggest Loser contestants participate because they are brainwashed into believing that all of their problems are due to, as Lydia puts it, "energy-in, energy-out" and they have internalised this shame.

They are fat for bio-psycho-environmental reasons. They participate because they truly believe the show will help them, but really all it does is ridicule them for entertainment purposes and normalise the bullying of fat people, while putting their health at risk.

Do you know that bullying of fat children in school has significantly increased over the past decade? And that these children are at risk of significant harm as a result? Or are you happy to see that continue, maybe you were one of those schoolyard bullies who picked on anyone who was 'different.'

Your willingness not only to turn a blind eye but to actively defend such treatment disgusts me. SHAME

Bonnie

Perhaps they should eat less?