Few reality TV shows have made as dramatic an impact on pop culture as The Biggest Loser. It captivated audiences from its 2004 debut until 2016, although it had a one-season reboot in 2020. It became a cultural cornerstone due to its emotional storytelling, jaw-dropping transformations and fierce competition. Over the years, it sparked so much buzz that it became a nationwide phenomenon, despite its controversial edge. 

What fans of the show may remember is the appearance of Joelle Gwynn in the show’s seventh season, which aired in 2009. Joelle was definitely a memorable addition to the cast as she is a tenacious Detroit native. She entered the show at 41 years old, battling high blood pressure and borderline diabetes, but she sought to make changes in both her body and mind. Though she was eliminated in week five with an 80-pound weight loss (from 309 lb to 229 lb), her journey resonated with many viewers. And now, with the release of a new documentary, Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, fans can explore her point of view for the first time.  

Has anyone from ‘The Biggest Loser’ kept the weight off?

With the on-screen return of some of The Biggest Loser‘s favorite weight loss champions, the big question is, was the show effective? Ultimately, sustainability proved to be the show’s greatest challenge. Many winners even experienced rapid rebounds of weight gain after exiting the intense environment they were in while filming. Several contestants gained back the weight they lost in the years after. This includes Erik Chopin from season three, who in a 2010 documentary revealed he had gained over 175 pounds, per Distractify. 

However, some contestants from the show maintained their healthier lifestyles. This includes Olivia Ward from season 11, who now works as a SoulCycle Instructor, per People. She also founded a wellness program and has shared that she’s kept off over 80% of her previous weight in the span of 10 years. Some other contestants, including The Biggest Loser contestant Joelle Gwynn, kept off some weight with a more active lifestyle over the years.

But not everyone, or even the majority of the cast, can say that they have continued their weight loss journey – or at least, as intensely as they did during the show. And that is likely a good thing. As The List describes, this show was iconic but also quite traumatic for some people. The overly restrictive diet and hard exercise regimens alone were hard to maintain on set. So, it would make sense that there would be a difference after leaving. 

Are Carla Triplett and Joelle Gwynn still friends?

When Joelle Gwynn joined Season seven of The Biggest Loser, she did not come alone. Her close friend Carla Triplett entered the competition with her as her weight loss partner. The two Detroit natives came in with high hopes and supposedly a deep bond. But their friendship was quickly tested under the pressure of the show’s grueling format. 

Tensions boiled over during the infamous week five elimination episode. Carla grew frustrated with what she saw as Joelle’s lack of commitment and accountability for her weight loss journey. Viewers of the show will remember the fiery confrontation, which went viral within the fan community at the time. Their clash quickly became one of the season’s most memorable and painful moments. 

After filming wrapped, Joelle apparently regained over 50 pounds, which further complicated her feelings about the experience. But as she recalls, she and Carla were never really close friends. This is apparently true despite their appearance on the show as best friends. As she describes to People, “Carla and I were actually more of acquaintances. She suggested that we put ‘best friends’ […] for marketing purposes. I didn’t want to come on the show and do drama. There were some things that were said publicly that were hurtful, but sometimes relationships are rocky like that.” 

So, fans of the pair will not likely see them together any time soon. They are not in each other’s lives in a significant capacity despite Carla’s testimony that, “I’ve known Joelle for two years. I still consider her a friend and have reached out to her many times, but I don’t know how she feels.”

Joelle tells her side of the story in Netflix’s ‘Fit For TV’ docu-series

As MovieDelic reports, The Biggest Loser contestant Joelle Gwynn appears in a recently released Netflix original focusing on the reality series’ undeniable impact. This documentary pulls back the curtain on the emotional and physical consequences of the show’s extreme weight loss premise. It amplifies the voices of contestants, trainers, producers and medical staff. 

With these intriguing takes on the show, the doc questions how the dramatic television moments were really made. Among those features was Gwynn, who reflects on her time in the spotlight with unflinching honesty. The series even revisits one of her most difficult moments. That was the explosive confrontation she had with trainer Bob Harper during a treadmill workout. 

During The Biggest Loser, Joelle Gwynn failed to meet the other contestants’ treadmill time. Harper then exclaimed, “Well then do it, Joelle! Stop saying all these words. Quit talking! I’m sick of just words, words, words, talk, talk, talk! Shut the f**k up, just do it! Just stop talking and do it!” She equates his treatment of her as verbally abusive and recalls that the incident was “very embarrassing” and left her shaken, per People. 

Although Harper has expressed that it was not a proud moment for him, Gwynn clearly still has some hard feelings toward the former trainer. In the documentary, she remarked, “I do not care for Bob Harper. F**k you, Bob Harper.” This highlights how, over a decade later, The Biggest Loser still has a dark legacy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours a day do Biggest Loser contestants workout?

As reported by Time, the contestants endure grueling workout routines, often training between eight to ten hours per day. The Netflix documentary Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser highlights the show’s extreme regimens, including low-calorie diets and nonstop exercise. These all resulted in extreme results but did so at the cost of the contestants’ health and safety.  

Are Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper still friends?

No, they have not been in contact for years, per Today. In fact, Harper cites that Michaels never reached out after he had a heart attack in 2017, despite working together for almost 10 years.

Do Biggest Loser contestants get skin removal surgery?

No, unfortunately, for those undergoing a huge transformation and therefore accumulating large amounts of excess skin, contestants don’t get the surgery. Although some people choose to undergo the surgery after losing sometimes hundreds of pounds, it is not included in the experience.