Village on a Diet takes reality show weight loss to new heights — and girths

The Biggest Loser has had individual contestants, couples, and even teams. Well, the newest reality show is spreading the concept — to a whole city.

Well, Taylor, British Columbia isn't quite a city, more of a village or town, hence the name of the CBC reality show, Village on a Diet.

Taylor has only 1,384 residents, according to 2006 numbers. Yet the quest is for the village to lose a ton of weight in the 10-part reality show, which made its debut last night.

The small BC town has more than 60% of its population either overweight or obese.

If you are looking for a comparison, the logical pick is Oklahoma City. You might remember Mayor Mick Cornett's quest for his 1.1 million residents to lose a million pounds in a year. That number broke down to an average of less than 1 pound over 12 months.

Taylor's quest averages out to 1.45 pounds per person in 10 weeks — with cameras rolling.

The residents of Taylor will get some help, though. As you can see (screen grab from the show's promotional material), trained experts will help the residents.

Taylor is located neat Fort St. John, so there is a commuting element for the residents. According to Wikipedia, Taylor has no grocery store. So there aren't any walks to get food in the town.

The perception of British Columbia weather is usually rainy Vancouver, but Taylor is far enough north and away from the ocean, so snow dominates the winter landscape. Given its 56° north latitude, those winter days have to be really, really short.

Though this is a reality show, there is less pressure to make this a circus, thanks to the Canadian and CBC sensibilities. Keeping track of the results will be difficult since the CBC usually limits access to episodes to Canadian ISPs (if you remember the saga in the fall with Men with Brooms, you know how difficult that was to monitor).

The first season of any reality show often gets the highest level of sincerity, since subsequent seasons have people being more aware of the camera's impact.

In the spirit of New Year's, we wish the residents of Taylor, BC bonne chance and good luck.

While the program airs in Canada, those along the U.S. border with access to CBC stations, either through over-the-air or cable, can watch Monday nights at 9 pm local time.

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Speaking of weight loss reality shows, the original is back for a new season starting tonight on NBC (and City TV in Canada). The Biggest Loser will spotlight couples in its 11th season, the final one for Jillian Michaels.

The promotional angle has centered on the newest contestant Olympic gold-medal wrestler Rulon Gardner. Currently at about 474 pounds, Gardner won gold in Sydney in 2000 at 130 kg (286 lbs.) and bronze in Athens in 2004 at 120 kg (264 lbs.)

Comments

[Emilia Pickrell]

The show is really good in helping their contestants lose weight. The trainings are very strict especially with the diet. Some of them get too emotional going through the obstacles but still they keep on to reach one goal, and that is to lose half their size! In this journey of their lives they just need to be armed by two things; Determination and discipline. If others can do it without cameras around or the whole world watching, they can also do that by believing in themselves.

[HCG]

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[psoriasis free]

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[dietician houston]

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