The N's Student Body

If all of this sounds a lot like original reality weight-loss challenge The Biggest Loser, it's not surprising -- Student Body is produced by the same folks who first made it acceptable to post participants' weights in bold numbers for all the world to see. Much of the show's structure seems like a carbon copy of its parent series, but some aspects have been adjusted to reflect the fact that the participants here are teens. For starters, weigh-ins are done in shorts and baggy T-shirts rather than Spandex and sports bras, and there are no challenges of willpower that tempt the competitors with high-calorie foods. There's also no mandatory elimination; teens are sent packing only if they consistently demonstrate a negative attitude about themselves or the program.

Student Body's trainers and motivational leaders do a good job of delivering tough love without seeming judgmental. Even when their words reduce the teens to tears, the adults are quick to follow up with encouragement and support, and overall they get their message through. The focus never strays from emphasizing healthy lifestyles, and no teen is encouraged to meet someone else's standard of the "perfect body." Emotions often run high; there are plenty of tears as the participants talk about the personal issues that contribute to their size. But overall, the show is inspirational, and in today's world of body image hyper-sensitivity, you've got to hand it to these teens for taking such a radical step to change their lives.