From Victim to Victor: 'The Biggest Loser' Star Reflects on Life-Changing Journey

The Biggest Loser's Darkest Secrets Exposed: Former Contestant Hannah Curlee Young Speaks Out

In a scathing rebuke to Netflix's latest exposé, "Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser," former star Hannah Curlee Young has unleashed a fiery defense of the hit weight-loss programme. The 46-year-old Nashville-based wellness coach, who stunned audiences with her 120lb weight loss on Season 11 in 2011, insists that the show saved her life and gave her a second chance at happiness.

But the controversy surrounding "The Biggest Loser" has been raging for months, with many former contestants coming forward to claim that the show's rapid weight-loss methods came at too high a price. The Netflix documentary, which premiered last month, paints a damning picture of the programme's tactics, including punishing workouts and extreme calorie restriction.

Young, who remains slim and fit even after two pregnancies, is not buying it. "I will forever defend The Biggest Loser," she declares, her voice filled with conviction. "It gave me the confidence to date again, to change careers, to start a family. Seeds were planted back then that are still bearing fruit today."

But what about the allegations of exploitation? Young dismisses them as "one-sided" and "misleading." She admits that the Netflix series was "hard to watch," but claims it presented only one side of the story – the negative one. "It made contestants look like victims – and that's not my story," she says, her voice rising in indignation.

When Young auditioned for the show, she weighed a staggering 248lbs and was struggling with infertility, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and severe depression. She had all but given up on life, feeling like a "victim" of her own weight. But by the time she left the show after just a few months, she had transformed into a confident, slim, and healthy individual – one who was no longer defined by her weight.

"I had alienated myself socially because of my weight," she reveals, her voice cracking with emotion. "My life was very hard and my weight affected every decision I made – what kind of car I drove, what clothes I wore, what people I surrounded myself with."

But it was not just the physical transformation that changed Young's life; it was also the mental one. She credits trainer Jillian Michaels with pushing her to confront her deep-seated issues and overcome them once and for all.

"The mental transformation was night and day," she says, her eyes shining with gratitude. "I had been in such a negative, downtrodden place. I thought there was no hope."

And as for the claims that contestants were forced into gruelling workouts and extreme calorie restriction? Young dismisses them out of hand. "We trained with Jillian and Bob [Harper] maybe two or three times a week for three hours," she says, her voice matter-of-fact. "But that was with 20 other people. The rest was walking, hiking, cardio. Nobody forced us to do anything."

She also disputes the documentary's portrayal of medical support on set. "We had doctors, nutritionists, and therapists available to us all the time," she says. "Contestants underwent heart tests, stress tests, and regular medical checks. There was never anyone making us eat certain things or forcing us to work out."

Young's defense of "The Biggest Loser" has sparked a heated debate in the wake of the Netflix documentary. While some have hailed her as a brave whistleblower, others have accused her of being complicit in the show's alleged exploitation.

But for Young, it's not about defending the programme – it's about standing up for herself and her experience on "The Biggest Loser." She acknowledges that not everyone had a positive experience on the show, but insists that the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

"It wasn't perfect, but for me, it was life-changing," she says, her voice filled with conviction. "Blaming The Biggest Loser for where you are today isn't taking accountability."

As for her current life, Young seems to have it all – a loving husband (a personal trainer who appears alongside her in her wellness business), two adorable kids, and a thriving career as a wellness coach.

But despite her many successes, Young says she still maintains friendships with trainers, producers, and crew members from the show. "I don't know where I'd be without it," she says, her voice filled with emotion. "It gave me a second chance at life."

The controversy surrounding "The Biggest Loser" shows no signs of dying down anytime soon – but one thing is certain: Hannah Curlee Young will forever stand by the programme that changed her life in ways she never thought possible.

Sources:

• TheScholarlyNote.com
• Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser (Netflix documentary)
• Interviews with Hannah Curlee Young