'The Biggest Loser' finally gives us numbers for teenagers weight loss

Putting kids on a diet and awaiting a specific numerical result can be unsettling since kids are still growing. And ideally, kids shouldn't have to think about numbers the same way adults do.

But this is "The Biggest Loser" and numbers matter.

Sunny, 16, lost 51 pounds and 4 dress sizes. Lindsay, 13, lost 47 pounds. Biingo, 13, lost 43 pounds.

We knew before the finale that Biingo had lost ¼ of his weight. He also grew 2 inches, so we could definitely see the transformation. (And his family lost more than 200 pounds.)

Lindsay came out with the cheerleaders and fit in with them. She runs a mile in 9½ minutes. And she's no longer pre-diabetic.

Sunny always wanted to fit in the prom dress. She comes out on stage in a dress. Jillian gets Sunny to turn around, but the camera didn't catch her full turn.

The teenagers were treated with kid gloves (pardon the pun) compared to the adults. But what was intriguing about this season's results was that the top 3 players weren't much older than Sunny.

Jackson, 21, came in 3rd (328 down to 190) for a 42.07% weight loss. Jeff, 24, barely lost out to Danni, 26. Jeff went from 388 to 207 for a 46.65% weight loss. Danni went from 258 to 137 for a 46.90% weight loss.

We needed to have some concrete idea on how the kids did. Being an adult and having your weight posted every week is humiliating. For a kid to go that experience would have been cruel.

Announcing the weight loss at the end was a solid compromise. Biingo grew 2 inches and Lindsay still could grow taller. Sunny might be close to her adult height at 16. Any growth up for these kids will be icing, though not the kind you eat.

Yes, kids need to move more than they do, but they also need help on what to eat and how much to consume. But like the adults on "The Biggest Loser," they didn't get enough nutrition information.

Bob Harper said in the beginning of the season finale that the show has an obligation to help obese teenagers. These kids, or ones similar to Biingo, Lindsay, and Sunny, could have used entire episodes, perhaps over the summer, to show teenagers at home that they can follow a healthier path. Given how good Jillian was with the kids, especially early on, she might have found a niche with teenagers. Sure beats seeing her as the screaming lady. As long as the teenagers were on screen, Jillian was sweet.

Overall, this was a good start. But a 6-8 week spinoff focusing on teenagers is the next step. More nutrition, more emotional support without the yelling and in-show commercials. Now that is reality TV we can get behind.

Comments

[Ted]

It's sad that many of kids are over weight now. We adults really need to educate kids. But before that, we have to be a good model for that... Let's help kids in this world.

[Maria]

It is so frightening how many children are creating a future of health problems for themselves. And I agree Ted, now is the time for us to be role-models for them and to show them that the way forward is a life of good food and exercise.

[Jenny]

The Biggest Loser," they didn't get enough nutrition information.

[minecraft mod]

We adults really need to educate kids.