America and “The Biggest Loser”

The American dream is very much based on individualism and the idea that America provides its inhabitants the freedom to be able to prosper and make there dreams a reality. It has become rather apparent through popular media and government based campaigns that we are an overweight country due to our grandiose consumption habits and lack of physical activity. Perhaps the strong allure to NBC’s hit reality television show “ the biggest loser” is this widespread understanding that we as a nation are largely overweight and this entertaining show provides it’s contestants with the means to carry out their own physical dreams (a part of the American dream), an emotional understanding that really hits home for many Americans. Along with the show serving as a sort of portrayal of regular Americans striving to succeed in their own sort of American dream the show also refers to America as a sort of omnipresent divine being who will guide the contestants along their arduous journey. The show feeds into America’s guilty conscious by reminding us that we have all let ourselves go and have become gluttonous to a certain extent. On the same token, the show reinforces a very nationalistic sort of pride in which American perseverance will allow these contestants to shed the weight and conquer their physical dreams.

The show provides us with the following lessons and insights on American culture:

• -America values entertainment and a good story over the health of the contestants. It is quite obvious that rapid short-term weight-loss due to extreme dieting measures and physical activity is not necessarily the best way to lead a healthy life and change ones physique.
• -Mcdonaldization: Everything in America has become chained or franchised. The show has aired in 15 other countries and takes on the various cultural identities of the host country.
• -American’s sue: Trainer Jillian Michaels from the show has gone to court concerning the presumably dangerous contents of his self-branded dietary supplement. This also reinforces the first point made in that Americans are more concerned with helping people reach their goals at all costs even at the expense of health.
• -Capitalism: The show is ridden with candid in-show advertising by capturing the contestants changing their lives by eating subway and taking certain dietary supplements and working out at a franchised gym.
• -Corporate greed and expansion: “The biggest loser” is not only a television show but has also become a brand that accounted for 50 million in revenue in 2009.
• -The American dream extends to everyone in any situation: Anyone can reach any goal at any point in his or her life. This American way of thinking sounds a bit optimistic to me.

America is all about extremes: