Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Weight-loss reality show is compassionate, noncompetitive.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Extreme Weight Loss
What's the Story?
EXTREME MAKEOVER: WEIGHT-LOSS EDITION follows people's year-long transformational weight-loss journeys. Each episode follows trainer Chris Powell as he works with a morbidly obese person who wants to shed extra pounds and change his or her life. After a one-week boot camp designed to teach weight-loss clients new exercise and eating habits, Powell moves into their home to help with the first three months of weight loss. To motivate clients to stick to their strict diet and workout goals, Powell offers them incentives like in-home gyms, trips to Europe, and skin removal surgery in exchange for meeting their target goal weight. After the 90 days are up, he leaves them to continue their transformation on their own, checking in at the end of every three-month phase to weigh them and establish new goals. The end of each client's transformation year is celebrated with a big reveal, where his or her total amount of pounds lost is announced, and the client showcases his or her new, skinnier look.
Is It Any Good?
This series stays in stride with the dramatic but family-friendly stories about transformation and happiness that the Extreme Makeover franchise is known for by offering positive messages about losing weight to get healthy and develop better self-esteem. Powell is also a positive role model, offering compassionate -- but firm -- guidance about what needs to be done to lose weight.
Like many other weight-loss programs, the show focuses on losing pounds without discussing factors like gaining muscle mass and the dangers that come with over training. It also fails to address some of the physiological and emotional barriers to losing weight. Nonetheless, viewers may find themselves inspired by the people featured here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about weight and weight-loss shows. What messages does the media send about what people should weigh and how they should look?
Why do you think people choose to have their weight-loss journeys featured on reality shows? How do these shows contribute to girls' body image issues? Do these shows have the same impact on boys?
What's the best way to lose weight? Should weight loss be achieved quickly or over a long period of time? Why? What are some of the positive consequences of losing lots of weight? Are there any negative consequences?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 30, 2011
- Cast : Chris Powell
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 14, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate