The Biggest Loser Season 3 runner-up Kai Hibbard is speaking out about her experiences on the reality show, and her revelations are of the negative variety. It seems likely that her contractual agreement with the show has expired, after four years, and she is finally free to spill the beans on her experiences.
Hibbard represented Alaska during the season that featured a contestant from each of the 50 states. She joined the competition weighing 262 pounds. She lost an amazing 118 pounds and gained an eating disorder in the process.
She revealed: “I left the show with a very poor mental body image. I found myself loathing what I looked like, the more weight I dropped, because of the pressure on me. I found myself doing things like considering coffee a meal. And because of the pressures on the show, it was considered acceptable to behave that way.” It wasn’t until her family staged an intervention that she resumed a normal pattern of eating.
The former Biggest Loser contestant claims that the show taught them how to dehydrate for the most dramatic results on the scales. “Before I went on the show I never learned how to dehydrate to manipulate a scale. When I left, I knew how better than some fitness competitors.”
She said that the interval between weigh-ins was often longer than a week in order to demonstrate more significant weight loss totals as the cameras rolled. The show, that enjoys a huge following (pun intended), generated $100 million in revenue last year.
Hibbard revealed what she felt was a dangerous practice that was common on the show. She said contestants were strongly encouraged to vigorously exercise while injured.
Why is she coming forward now with her story? She said it isn’t for any monetary gain. “I participated in something that I feel is harmful to so many people so I own responsibility to make it better.”
She has been in contact with other former contestants. Many are happy with the experience and their results, but 6 came away with issues similar to Hibbard’s. Most cannot speak out because they are still under a confidentiality agreement.
Kai expects to get hate mail and jokingly requests that her detractors use spell-check to ensure they don’t forget the ‘w’ in fame-whore.
Season 3 winner was Erik Chopin, who gained back 122 pounds. Kai indicates she has also regained 70 pounds.
More photos and Kai’s interview on CBS below: