Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids work hard to combat obesity in frank reality show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Too Fat for 15: Fighting Back
What's the Story?
TOO FAT FOR 15: FIGHTING BACK follows five obese young people between the ages of 11 and 17 who attend the Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas -- an exclusive weight-loss boarding school where they learn healthy eating habits, participate in structured exercise regimes, and take part in group therapy and counseling sessions led by behavioral coaches. They also take a full load of academic courses. Throughout the process, the tweens and teens work on the physical and psychological challenges they face as obese people, which sometimes include confronting the deep emotional factors that contribute to their dangerously unhealthy weight. It isn't easy, but they hope that the time they spend at Wellspring will put them on the path to a better life.
Is It Any Good?
Too Fat for 15 offers an intimate look at the difficult journey that these young adults are taking toward changing their lives. Wellspring's acclaimed immersion program is designed to isolate students from a world that fuels their unhealthy habits in order to help them make better lifestyle choices; as a result, the show is as much as about the program's success as it is about the triumphs and setbacks of the kids participating in it.
Watching the kids struggle through Wellspring's program isn't easy, but overall the underscores how their struggles will lead to a healthier and happier life. It also highlights the complicated factors that led to their weight gain in the first place, including fatty food consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, low self-esteem, and addiction. Their efforts to reclaim their lives are inspirational, but the show acts as a sobering reminder of the consequences of the obesity epidemic plaguing America's children.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's messages. What is it saying about both body image and weight loss? How does the media contribute to people's weight gain/loss?
Why do you think these kids agreed to share their stories on television? Do you think their stories will help inspire others?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 9, 2010
- Cast : Billy Porter , Daniel Kirschenbaum , Susan Borgman
- Network : Style Network
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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