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Celebrity Fit Club

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    A guilty pleasure, but not fit for families.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    On its face, the show is a crass exploitation of people who struggle with their weight, and it seems to derive most of its entertainment value at their expense. That said, the core message is a healthy one: Eat right, exercise, and always work together as a team. Contestants' personal stories can also be heartwarming -- and inspiring.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    When pushed -- or confronted with too many lame excuses -- trainer Harvey Walden becomes a belligerent force to be reckoned with. His screaming, which is a hybrid of drill sergeant-style motivation and verbal abuse, might be too intense for young children.

  • Sex:

    Two female contestants have posed nude for Playboy magazine, prompting the display of a few suggestive pictures for nostalgia's sake. One of those pictures shows the rear view of a woman wearing a thong bikini.

  • Language:

    Contestants occasionally lose their cool with each other and with the experts, prompting a torrent of foul language that's mostly bleeped out. Curse words like "f--k," "s--t" and, oddly, "God" (as in "God damn!") are bleeped, while words like "ass" and "damn" remain.

  • Consumerism:

    Weight loss experts are introduced by a host who notes the books the experts have written -- which, in turn, are advertised during commercial breaks. The show also presents "healthy eating tips" that are sponsored by Xyience, a company that sells weight-loss supplements. And, naturally, the winner walks away with a carload of fabulous prizes.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    One contestant talks about the fact that he quit smoking to improve his health and avert a heart attack.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Celebrity Fit Club

Parents need to know that this reality show deals almost exclusively with weight loss and the effects of being overweight. Through the magic of television, contestants seem to magically "melt," dropping upwards of 30 pounds in just eight episodes -- even though the actual weight-loss period spans 100 days. But while the series makes a concerted effort to emphasize healthy weight loss over fast results -- setting sensible weight-loss goals customized to each contestant -- the message could easily be misinterpreted by impressionable teens who might try to slim down on their own at a faster rate without a doctor's supervision. What's more, the show could also make overweight kids and teens feel worse about their bodies.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the realities of a world in which thin bodies are prized, fat ones are scorned, and deliciously unhealthy food is more widely available than ever before. Why is thin so in -- and how do the sculpted celebrity images we see in the media affect our perceptions of our own bodies? Why are chubby children teased -- and why do heavy people so often become the butt of jokes in television and movies? Why do Americans as a whole tend to eat to excess -- are we really that hungry, or are we eating for other reasons? Are all diets truly healthy? And is there such a thing as being too thin?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    sheborg
    Lives in Alabama
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    SummerLuvr810
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    not really that good

    I used to watch the show but now it seems kinda dumb. Nowaday it seems if you throw in so called celebrities to a show than people love it. Honestly I like biggest loser a lot better because a lot of people on this show are immature slobs.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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