| Creator: | Ben Silverman, Mark Koops and Dave Broome |
| Presenter: | Caroline Rhea Alison Sweeney[1] Bob Harper[2] |
| Starring: | See below |
| Narrated: | J. D. Roth Alison Sweeney Bob Harper |
| Theme Music Composer: | Heather Small and Peter-John Vettese |
| Opentheme: | "Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous" (Season 1) by RuPaul "Proud" (Seasons 2–9) by Heather Small "Brand New Book" (Season 12–13) by Train None (Season 10-11,14-17), "TBA" (Season 18) |
| Composer: | Jeff Lippencott and Mark T. Williams, Ah2 Music, Jason Bond, Darren Moss |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 18 |
| Num Episodes: | 248 |
| Executive Producer: | Eden Gaha |
| Runtime: | 80–83 minutes (NBC) 60 minutes (USA Network) |
| Company: | 3Ball Entertainment Eyeworks Reveille Productions (2004–12) Shine America (2012–16) Endemol Shine North America (2020) Twenty Five Seven Productions (2004–16) Universal Television Alternative Studio (2020) |
| Network: | NBC (2004–16) USA (2020) |
The Biggest Loser is an American competition reality show that initially ran on NBC for 17 seasons from 2004 to 2016 before moving to USA Network in 2020.[3] The show features obese or overweight contestants competing to win a cash prize by losing the highest percentage of weight relative to their initial weight.
Each season of The Biggest Loser starts the 30-week competition with a weigh-in to determine the contestants' starting weights, which serve as the baseline for determining the overall winner.
The contestants are grouped into teams of three, each wearing separate colored T-shirts. Depending on the season a team may work with a specific trainer or all trainers may work with all contestants. The trainers are responsible (in conjunction with medical personnel retained by the show) for designing comprehensive workout and nutrition plans and teaching them to the contestants. However, the contestants are individually responsible for implementing the principles taught.
During an episode, various challenges and temptations (see below) are featured. Those who win a particular challenge are given special privileges, such as a weight advantage for the next weigh-in or even full immunity from being voted off the show.
Each week culminates in another weigh-in to determine which team has lost the most weight for that week, in percentage of total weight lost. The team that has lost the least percentage during that week (known as "falling below the yellow line", which refers to a line featured on a video screen showing the cutoff between safety and being at-risk) will have one member voted off (unless the team consists of only one remaining member, in which case there is no vote). The vote is usually made by the other teams, though some episodes feature one team making the decision alone. Some episodes feature a second, "red line"; if a contestant falls below the red line the contestant is automatically off the show with no vote. Other episodes allow for the contestants, if successfully meeting a goal at the weigh-in, to all receive immunity for the week.
When the number of contestants has shrunk to a predetermined smaller number (unknown to the contestants), the teams are dissolved and the contestants compete one-on-one against each other.
The season finale reunited the final contestants remaining on the show and those eliminated. The eliminated contestants compete for a smaller prize while those remaining on the show compete for a larger prize and the title of "The Biggest Loser".
Episodes are typically two hours long. Some episodes have been aired in a shortened one-hour format to accommodate adjacent network programming such as The Voice[4] and the State of the Union address.[5] Each episode features some, but not all, of the following activities (some contestants may not participate in an activity with physical requirements if placed on medical restrictions):
According to LiveScience.com, "physicians and nutritionists worry the show's focus on competitive weight loss is, at best, counterproductive and, at worst, dangerous". Contestants on the show lose upwards of 10 pounds per week (in the very first week, some contestants have lost 20–30+ pounds in that one week alone), whereas the established medical guidelines for safe weight loss are between 1 and 2 pounds per week.[6]
Other health writers take it even further, suggesting that everything from the show's dietary guidelines to workout routines are completely flawed.[7]
Nutritionist Dr. Barry Sears sums up the wellness paradox: "First, eating less can cause stress to the system causing more hunger. Second, the more people exercise, the hungrier they become." Dr. Sears continues by claiming that "even with the most intense training, people are unlikely to add more than five pounds of muscle in 12 weeks of weight training. The reason viewers see their muscles emerging as the show goes on is because as the layer of fat surrounding the muscles is lost, muscles become more visible. Those muscles were always there but covered by a mass of fat tissue.[8]
At the end of every telecast, the following disclaimer is shown:
Despite this claim of supervision, however, all contestants are required to sign a waiver that states: "no warranty, representation or guarantee has been made as to the qualifications or credentials of the medical professionals who examine me or perform any procedures on me in connection with my participation in the series, or their ability to diagnose medical conditions that may affect my fitness to participate in the series".[9]
The weight-loss regimen used in the show—severe caloric restriction combined with up to six hours a day of strenuous exercise—involves risks including a weakening of the heart muscle, irregular heartbeat and dangerous reductions in potassium and electrolytes.[10] Contestants, regardless of their weight, are required to certify that they believe they are "in excellent physical, emotional, psychological and mental health".[10]
included a one-mile foot race in its first week, an event that led to the hospitalization of two of its contestants; Rob Huizenga, the show's medical consultant, when asked about the foot race said that "If we had it to do over, we wouldn't [have done] it" and noted that in response, the show's producers have "changed a lot of the way [they] do things" (including the close monitoring of contestants' body temperatures during exercise).[10]
One attempt to create a more healthy environment after Season 8's dangerous foot race was to include a pool for low-impact cardio. This helped contestants to lose weight in a healthier and safer way than some previous exercise routines on earlier seasons.[11]
Because the show is a contest that involves eliminations from it, some contestants are encouraged to take risks that endanger their health. Ryan C. Benson, the winner of the program's first season, publicly admitted that "he dropped some of the weight by fasting and dehydrating himself to the point that he was urinating blood". Also since the show Benson has regained all of his weight, but 10–12 lbs.[10] In 2009, Kai Hibbard (runner-up from the third season) told The New York Times that "she and other contestants would drink as little water as possible in the 24 hours before a weigh-in" and would "work out in as much clothing as possible" when the cameras were off. She further stated that two weeks after the show ended, she had regained about 31 pounds, mostly from staying hydrated.[10] In a June 2010 interview, Hibbard said, "I do still struggle [with disordered eating]. I do. My husband says I'm still afraid of food... I'm still pretty messed up from the show."[12]
According to a report by The New York Post, California authorities inquired the show due to allegations of doping contestants. The show dismissed these allegations as false and without merit.[13] The show is under internal investigation as of July 2018.[14]
In 2016, the results of a long-term study by the US National Institute of Health (NIH) were released that documented the weight gain and loss of contestants in Season 8, which aired in 2009.[15] The study found that most of the 16 contestants regained their weight, and in some case gained more than before they entered the contest. Their metabolisms had slowed to the point where they were burning hundreds of calories a day less than other people of their new, reduced size. The New York Times reported: "What shocked the researchers was what happened next: As the years went by and the numbers on the scale climbed, the contestants' metabolisms did not recover... It was as if their bodies were intensifying their effort to pull the contestants back to their original weight." The article quoted Dr. Michael Rosenbaum who said, "The difficulty in keeping weight off reflects biology, not a pathological lack of willpower."
After the study results were revealed, former contestants demanded NBC to cancel the show.[15]
Seasons two and three of The Biggest Loser have been filmed at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch.[16] The 126acres ranch is an equestrian estate in Simi Valley, California, northwest of Los Angeles.[17] Recent seasons have been filmed at King Gillette Ranch on Mulholland Highway near Malibu Creek State Park.[18]
| width=20 | Name! | width=20 | Premiere! | width=20 | Finale! | width=20 | Original teams! | width=20 | The Biggest Loser! | width=20 | At-Home Winner! | Synopsis | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Biggest Loser (season 1) | October 19, 2004 | December 14, 2004 | Two teams of six | Ryan Benson | David Fioravanti | Featured 12 contestants divided into two teams, the Red team and the Blue team. The Red Team was coached by trainer Jillian Michaels, while The Blue Team was coached by trainer Bob Harper. The eventual winner of the $250,000 grand prize was Ryan, with a total weight loss of 122 pounds (37%). | ||||||
| 2 | The Biggest Loser (season 2) | September 13, 2005 | November 29, 2005 | Two teams of seven divided by gender | Matt Hoover | Pete Thomas | Featured fourteen contestants divided into two teams based on gender. Season two introduced the change that weigh-ins would be won or lost based on the percentage of total weight lost, rather than on the number of pounds lost. This change was made to create a more even playing field among contestants of varying weights. Matt was the eventual winner. | ||||||
| 3 | The Biggest Loser (season 3) | September 20, 2006 | November 29, 2006 | Two teams of seven and two at-home returnees | Brian Starkey | Involved the largest cast ever with 50 contestants initially beginning the show, each representing one US state. Kim Lyons joined the show, replacing Jillian Michaels as the Red Team trainer for only one season. After the initial group weigh-in and exercise, 14 contestants were selected to stay on the ranch and the other 36 contestants participated by losing weight at home. Later in the season, at-home players who lost the most weight were brought back to rejoin the cast on the ranch.[19] | |||||||
| 4 | The Biggest Loser (season 4) | September 11, 2007 | December 18, 2007 | Three teams of six | Bill Germanakos | Jim Germanakos | In February 2007, it was announced that Caroline Rhea was leaving the show, to be replaced by Days of Our Lives actress Alison Sweeney.[20] It was also announced that there would be three teams (named for the color each team member would wear: blue, red, or black), with Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels and Kim Lyons returning as personal trainers. One of the contestants for this season was Amber Walker, a paramedic from Pasadena, Texas, who won a viewer vote among potential candidates on the April 23, 2007, edition of NBC's Today,[21] even though the other three choices (Jez Luckett, Lezlye Donahue, and David Griffin) were eventually chosen as contestants as well. The winners were each twins: Jim, a contestant who had been voted off won the prize for the eliminated contestants. Bill won the grand prize of $250,000 and was pronounced The Biggest Loser by Sweeney. | ||||||
| 5 | The Biggest Loser: Couples | January 1, 2008 | April 15, 2008 | Ten teams of two | Bernie Salazar | 20 contestants competed on 10 teams, each paired with a loved one, co-worker or friend with the exception of one team of strangers. Alison Sweeney returned as host for her second season. Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels returned to train the contestants. Bernie won the eliminated edition, losing 130 pounds and winning $100,000. Ali Vincent lost the biggest percentage of weight and became the first female biggest loser of the US series, beating Roger and Kelly. However, internationally, she is not the first female biggest loser; the first female biggest loser is Jodie Prenger from the UK's second season. | |||||||
| 6 | The Biggest Loser: Families | September 16, 2008 | December 16, 2008 | Eight teams of two | Michelle Aguilar | Heba Salama | 16 contestants competed in pairs, fewer than in the previous season. Four teams consisted of married couples, training with Bob, while the other four were parent/child teams training with Jillian. Alison Sweeney returned as host for her third season. Michelle Aguilar was declared the Biggest Loser after beating Ed Brantley and Vicky Vilcan at the finale. She lost a total of 110 pounds, or 45.45 percent of her body weight, winning the $250,000 grand prize. Heba Salama was awarded the $100,000 prize for the eliminated contestant with the largest percentage of weight loss after losing 138 pounds, or 46.94 percent of her body weight | ||||||
| 7 | The Biggest Loser: Couples 2 | January 6, 2009 | May 12, 2009 | Eleven teams of two | Helen Phillips | Jerry Hayes | Promoted as the "Biggest Season in Biggest Loser History". Included the heaviest man ever on The Biggest Loser, Daniel Wright, weighing 454 lb. It also included the oldest participants ever, at age 63 years. It had also been declared by the group doctor to be the sickest group of contestants ever, with 45 different medications being taken by them. Season 7 features a new team color the Silver Team in place of the Gray Team. With 22 people initially on the ranch, it also featured the largest number of on-ranch contestants ever on the show. It was won by 48-year-old Helen Phillips who lost 140 pounds or 54.47 percent of her body weight. | ||||||
| 8 | The Biggest Loser: Second Chances | September 15, 2009 | December 8, 2009 | Eight teams of two | Danny Cahill | Rebecca Meyer | 16 contestants competed. The season once again started off with different colored teams, but is the first since season 4 to have a non-couples start-off with 16 contestants of complete strangers competing as pairs. It featured a record number of contestants over 400 pounds, at five, including the heaviest woman and person ever on The Biggest Loser, Shay Sorrells, weighing 476 lb[22] while the heaviest man this season weighs 444 pounds. Season 7 contestant Daniel Wright returns for this season. In Week 9, it introduced the red line, an automatic elimination line without a vote that would become more common in latter seasons | ||||||
| 9 | The Biggest Loser: Couples 3 | January 5, 2010 | May 25, 2010 | Eleven teams of two | Michael Ventrella | Koli Palu | The ninth season of The Biggest Loser premiered January 5, 2010, with a format similar to the last couples season. A promo for the new season was shown during the Season 8 finale. This season had the heaviest contestant ever: 526 pound Michael Ventrella, as well as the heaviest couple: Twins James (485 lbs) and John (484 lbs), at 969 lbs.[23] [24] The $250,000 grand prize was awarded to Michael Ventrella who lost a biggest loser record 264 pounds. His total percentage of weight loss was 50.19%. "At home" winner Koli Palu went on to win the $100,000 prize. Palu, who spent the full season on the show, was eliminated in the finale, but he lost a larger percentage than Michael Ventrella and would have won the overall prize had he been selected by the viewers to move on instead of Daris George. | ||||||
| 10 | The Biggest Loser: Pay It Forward | September 21, 2010 | December 14, 2010 | Seven teams of three | Patrick House | Mark Pinkhasovich | This season has adopted a theme, called Paying It Forward, which means that the trainers won't only motivate contestants, but whole communities. 14 are initially selected to compete on the ranch, from seven trios of players from each of the seven cities visited, while others will be brought back during the season, which will lead to a contestant total of 21. The trainers traveled to seven cities.[25] Contestants are competing as individuals, despite sharing the same colored shirt. In a Biggest Loser first, half the contestants fall below the yellow line and must compete in an elimination challenge to save themselves from elimination | ||||||
| 11 | The Biggest Loser: Couples 4 | January 4, 2011 | May 24, 2011 | Twelve teams of two | Denise "Deni" Hill | A fourth couples edition also marked the fourth year of a winter-spring season.[26] The new team color to be added this season is aqua, replacing the white team. Season eleven will also feature major set changes including the scale, and changes to the trainers of the show. Two mystery trainers will be added as an alternative to the existing Bob/Jillian duo in the season's twist. In Week 3 their identities were revealed as Brett Hoebel and Cara Castronuova. The cast includes a man who is 507 pounds, second to only season 9's Michael. In the thirteenth episode, a two-person white team will be added, making this the biggest season cast in show history.[27] Former Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner was also a contestant that season. | |||||||
| 12 | The Biggest Loser: Battle of the Ages | September 20, 2011 | December 13, 2011 | Three teams of five | John Rhode | Jennifer Rumple | For the first time the contestants will be divided by age in the Battle of the Ages. There will be three teams: under 30, 30-49 and 50 and over. The heaviest contestant weighs in at 447 pounds. Two new trainers: Anna Kournikova and Dolvett Quince join Bob this season. This was the first season since Season 4 not to have different-colored teams of two | ||||||
| 13 | The Biggest Loser: No Excuses | January 3, 2012 | May 1, 2012 | Ten teams of two | Jeremy Britt | Mike Messina | In a theme of "No Excuses", each week is centered on a different excuse related to weight loss and obesity and how to tackle those excuses. For the first time teams will be competing against their partner in challenges, workouts and elimination. Dolvett Quince returns for his second season. Season 13 begins with a smaller cast than the previous seasons with the heaviest contestant weighing in at 403 pounds. | ||||||
| 14 | The Biggest Loser: Challenge America | January 6, 2013 | March 18, 2013 | Three teams of five | Danni Allen | Gina McDonald | Jillian Michaels will return again to the show for the third time after another two-year absence. She will train alongside Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince. The team colors this season are Blue (Bob), Red (Dolvett) and White (Jillian). For the first time, three teenagers, one for each team, aged 13 to 17 will compete outside the ranch. Season 14 also introduces a new logo | ||||||
| 15 | The Biggest Loser: Second Chances 2 | October 15, 2013 | February 4, 2014 | Three teams of five | Rachel Frederickson | Tumi Oguntala | In a Biggest Loser first, the trainers are part of casting process, handpicking which contestants to be on the show. In a theme of "Second Chances", the trainers will also utilize a "Trainer Save", allowing each trainer to rescue one player on their respective team from going home. Among the contestants to compete this season are Olympic weight lifter Holley Mangold and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard. Studdard is also the largest contestant of the season, weighing in at 462 pounds. Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels and Dolvett Quince return once again as the trainers for this season[28] | ||||||
| 16 | The Biggest Loser: Glory Days | September 11, 2014 | January 29, 2015 | Three teams of 6 and two Comeback Canyon Players | Toma Dobrosavljevic | Jordan Alicandro | Jillian Michaels will not be returning for this season, marking the third time she has left the show.[29] Trainers Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince will be returning, and two new trainers, Jessie Pavelka and Jennifer Widerstrom will also be joining the cast, and will be replacing Jillian Michaels.[30] Glory Days features an entire cast of former athletes and each week Bob Harper will train at Comeback Canyon, a secret location for eliminated contestants to compete for a second chance at the ranch toward the finale | ||||||
| 17 | The Biggest Loser: Temptation Nation | January 4, 2016 | February 22, 2016 | Two teams of eight | Roberto Hernandez | Luis Hernandez | Bob Harper replaces Alison Sweeney as host. Season 17 also marks the return of couples for the first time since season 13 with Dolvett and Jennifer training four couples each on their Red and Black teams respectively. Among other changes this season includes a complete renovation of the Biggest Loser gym and scale. The thematic motif this season is temptation as the contestants will be faced with temptation based challenges such as money and electronics. Contestants will be weighed side by side with two scales, one for Team Jen and one for Team Dolvett. Another format change this season is the yellow line for teams in which only the two lowest percentages on the losing team are up for elimination. | ||||||
| 18 | The Biggest Loser (season 18) | January 28, 2020 | March 31, 2020 | Two teams of six | Jim DiBattista | Megan Hoffman | Program moves to USA Network, and Bob Harper returns as host. New trainers are Erica Lugo and Steve Cook. USA takes a lighter hearted approach than the previous show by eliminating temptations and voting contestants off of the show. |
| Trainer | Seasons | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="16" | colspan="2" | |||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | colspan="1" | colspan="8" | colspan="2" | colspan="2" | colspan="3" | |||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | colspan="2" | colspan="14" | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="10" | colspan="1" | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="10" | colspan="1" | colspan="7" | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="11" | colspan="6" | colspan="1" | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="11" | colspan="1" | colspan="6" | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="15" | colspan="2" | colspan="1" | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="15" | colspan="1" | colspan="2" | ||||||||||||||||
| Steve Cook | colspan="17" | colspan="1" | ||||||||||||||||
| Erica Lugo | colspan="17" | |||||||||||||||||
| Season | Contestant | Age | Height | Start BMI | Start Weight | Recent BMI | Recent Weight | Lbs Lost | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Benson | 36 | ||||||||
| 2 | Matt Hoover | 28 | ||||||||
| 3 | Erik Chopin | 35 | ||||||||
| 4 | Bill Germanakos | 40 | ||||||||
| 5 | Ali Vincent | 32 | ||||||||
| 6 | Michelle Aguilar | 26 | ||||||||
| 7 | Helen Phillips | 47 | ||||||||
| 8 | Danny Cahill | 39 | ||||||||
| 9 | Michael Ventrella | 30 | ||||||||
| 10 | Patrick House | 28 | ||||||||
| 11 | Olivia Ward | 35 | ||||||||
| 12 | John Rhode | 40 | ||||||||
| 13 | Jeremy Britt | 21 | ||||||||
| 14 | Danni Allen | 26 | ||||||||
| 15 | Rachel Frederickson | 24 | ||||||||
| 16 | Toma Dobrosavljevic | 33 | ||||||||
| 17 | Roberto Hernandez | 36 | ||||||||
| 18 | Jim DiBattista | 47 |
Given to the person losing the most percentage of body weight under the eliminated contestants.
| Season | Contestant | Age | Height | Start BMI | Start Weight | Recent BMI | Recent Weight | Lbs Lost | Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave Fioravanti | 39 | ||||||||
| 2 | Pete Thomas | 36 | ||||||||
| 3 | Brian Starkey | 33 | ||||||||
| 4 | Jim Germanakos | 40 | ||||||||
| 5 | Bernie Salazar | 27 | ||||||||
| 6 | Heba Salama | 30 | ||||||||
| 7 | Jerry Hayes | 63 | ||||||||
| 8 | Rebecca Meyer | 25 | ||||||||
| 9 | Koli Palu | 29 | ||||||||
| 10 | Mark Pinkhasovich | 31 | ||||||||
| 11 | Deni Hill | 59 | ||||||||
| 12 | Jennifer Rumple | 39 | ||||||||
| 13 | Mike Messina | 41 | ||||||||
| 14 | Gina McDonald | 47 | ||||||||
| 15 | Tumi Oguntala | 41 | ||||||||
| 16 | Jordan Alicandro | 32 | ||||||||
| 17 | Luis Hernandez | 36 | ||||||||
| 18 | Megan Hoffman | 35 |
| Season | Episodes | Season Premiere | Season Finale | Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 10 | October 19, 2004 | December 14, 2004 | 2004–05 |
| 10.3 | ||||||||
| Season 2 | 12 | September 13, 2005 | November 29, 2005 | 2005–06 |
| 10.1 | ||||||||
| Season 3 | 12 | September 20, 2006 | November 29, 2006 | 2006–07 |
| 8.3 | ||||||||
| Season 4 | 15 | September 11, 2007 | December 18, 2007 | 2007–08 |
| 8.16 | ||||||||
| Couples | 16 | January 1, 2008 | April 15, 2008 |
| 8.96 | |||||||||
| Families | 13 | September 16, 2008 | December 16, 2008 | 2008–09 |
| 8.66 | ||||||||
| Couples 2 | 19 | January 6, 2009 | May 12, 2009 |
| 10.25 | |||||||||
| Second Chances | 13 | September 15, 2009 | December 8, 2009 | 2009–10 |
| 10.41 | ||||||||
| Couples 3 | 19 | January 5, 2010 | May 25, 2010 |
| 9.41 | |||||||||
| Pay It Forward | 13 | September 21, 2010 | December 14, 2010 | 2010–11 |
| 8.28 | ||||||||
| Couples 4 | 21 | January 4, 2011 | May 24, 2011 |
| 8.46 | |||||||||
| Battle of the Ages | 13 | September 20, 2011 | December 13, 2011 | 2011–12 |
| 6.93 | ||||||||
| No Excuses | 18 | January 3, 2012 | May 1, 2012 |
| 7.18 | |||||||||
| Challenge America | 12[39] | January 6, 2013 | March 18, 2013 | 2012–13 |
| 7.28[40] | ||||||||
| Second Chances 2 | 15 | October 15, 2013 | February 4, 2014 | 2013–14 |
| 7.36[41] | ||||||||
| Glory Days | 18 | September 11, 2014 | January 29, 2015 | 2014–15 |
| 5.49[42] | -style="background:#f9f9f9;" | Temptation Nation | 8 | January 4, 2016 | February 22, 2016 | 2015–16 |
| 4.75[43] |
| Season 18 | 10 | January 28, 2020 | March 31, 2020 | 2019-20 |
The following table contains records for the American version of The Biggest Loser. Only records which were officially announced on the show are included.
| Category | Record holders | Results (imperial/metric) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Weight Loss in a Season (Male)ES | Michael Ventrella (Couples 3) | 264 lbs/119.8 kg | |
| Most Weight Loss in a Season (Female)ES | Ashley Johnston (Couples 3) | 183 lbs/83.0 kg | |
| Heaviest starting weight (Male) | Michael Ventrella (Couples 3) | 526 lbs/238.6 kg | |
| Heaviest starting weight (Female) | Shay Sorrells (Second Chances) | 476 lbs/215.9 kg | |
| Heaviest starting weight (Team) | John & James Crutchfield (Couples 3) | 969 lbs/439.5 kg | |
| Biggest Percentage Weight Loss in a Season (Finalist) [Male]ES | Danny Cahill (Second Chances) | 55.58% | |
| Biggest Percentage Weight Loss in a Season (Finalist) [Female] ES | Rachel Frederickson (Second Chances 2) | 59.62% | |
| Biggest Percentage Weight Loss in a Season (At-Home Prize) [Male]ES | Koli Palu (Couples 3) | 53.35% | |
| Biggest Percentage Weight Loss in a Season (At-Home Prize) [Female]ES | Tumi Oguntala (Second Chances 2) | 54.86% | |
| Most Weight Lost in a week (Male) | Mark Pinhasovich (Pay It Forward) & Moses Kinikini (Couples 4) | 41 lbs/18.6 kg | |
| Most Weight Lost in a week (Female) | Patti Anderson (Couples 3 week 1) & Sonya Jones (Glory Days week 1) | 23 lbs/10.4 kg | |
| Most Weight Lost in a week (not week 1) [Male] | Neil Tejwani (Season 4) | 33 lbs/15.0 kg | |
| Most Weight Lost in a week (not week 1) [Female]EW | Holley Mangold (Second Chances 2 Week 5) | 19 lbs/8.7 kg | |
| Fastest to Lose 100 Pounds (Male) | Moses Kinikini (Couples 4) (100 lbs) & John Rhode (Battle of the Ages) (101 lbs) | 6 weeks | |
| Fastest to Lose 100 Pounds (Female)EW | Shay Sorrells (Second Chances) | 9 weeks | |
| Youngest Contestant (Male) | Mike Morelli (Couples 2) | 18 | |
| Youngest Contestant (Female) | Blake Benge (Glory Days) | 18 | |
| Oldest Contestant (Male) | Johnny Forger (Battle of the Ages) | 66 | |
| Oldest Contestant (Female) | Estella Hayes (Couples 2) & Bonnie Griffin (Battle of the Ages) & Nancy Rajala (No Excuses) | 63 | |
| Most Weight Lost on Campus (Male)ES | Michael Ventrella (Couples 3) | 204 lbs | |
| Most Weight Lost on Campus (Female)ES | Ashley Johnston (Couples 3) | 143 lbs | |
| Highest percentage of weight loss on Campus (Male) ES | Daris George (Couples 3) | 43.64% | |
| Highest percentage of weight loss on Campus (Female) ES | Tara Costa (Couples 2) | 45.23% | |
| Longest Time Gone Without Falling Below the Yellow Line ES | Tara Costa (Couples 2) | 18 weeks | |
| Most Time Losing Double Digits in a row in the Weigh-Ins | Danny Cahill (Second Chances) | 7 weeks | |
| Longest Running Couple (Male Team) (To make it to the finale)ES | Mike Morelli and Ron Morelli (Couples 2) | 18 weeks | |
| Longest Running Couple (Female Team) (To make it to the finale)ES | Olivia Ward and Hannah Curlee (Couples 4) | 20 weeks | |
| Longest Running Couple (Male & Female Team) (To make it to the finale)ES | Conda Britt and Jeremy Britt (No Excuses) | 15 weeks | |
| Longest Time Gone Without Facing Elimination | Tara Costa (Couples 2) | 18 weeks | |
| Most Challenges Won | Tara Costa (Couples 2) | 11 |
