“Biggest Loser” study finds diet and exercise can sustain weight
loss Researchers have studied the effect of daily strenuous
exercise and a restricted diet by examining data from a reality
TV program. Akinso: According to an NIH study, an exercise and
diet combination is more effective for weight loss than just
dieting alone. Researchers used data from the reality TV program
“The Biggest Loser” for the study. Hall: It's actually studying
season eight of “The Biggest Loser” contestants. Akinso: Dr.
Kevin Hall is from the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the NIH, and he's the
senior investigator of the study. Hall: The way we got involved
in this study was as most of the viewers who have ever watched
the show probably knows that people step on scales at the end of
the week and seem to be losing substantial amounts of weight —
really surprising amounts 10, 15, 20 pounds per week, which is
much greater than we typically see in weight loss programs.
Akinso: Dr. Hall explain