RIYADH: Though Haya and her younger sister walk at the King Abdullah wallboard with their iPods, they still feel overweight.
Now they have decided to do something more about it, and they are weighing several options after a reality show offered them ways to become a “big loser” of the extra weight.
Haya said she recently saw the reality show about people losing weight, some of them three times as heavy as her. The program led her to this important decision.
“I have decided to transform my body, health and life by adopting a new healthy lifestyle,” said the 21-year-old.
Haya is one of the many Saudi youth being influenced by Western TV shows about self-improvement, human rights, and life makeovers. In the wake of Oprah, who has had a huge impact on Saudi women, another program has lately created a significant revolution in many young Saudis lifestyle: “The Biggest Winner.”
The Arabic version of the reality show “The Biggest Loser,” which airs on MBC1, has attracted more than 150 million Arabic viewers, and has had an enormous influence on a large part of Saudi society.
In the program the contestants are weighed each week, and those who don’t lose enough pounds are sent home. The last person left standing, with the biggest loss in weight, receives SR250,000.
“Since ‘The Biggest Winner’ was first aired in 2006, the number of Saudis desiring to lose weight has grown while many Saudis’ appetite has been whetted to compete in the show year after year,” said Mohammed Al-Shehri, regional director of MBC group in Saudi Arabia.
“Shortly after the new season’s nomination for ‘The Biggest Winner’ began, we received hundreds of applications over the Web from the Kingdom,” he said. The program excites many Saudi women.
“There is nothing in the program that violates traditional values,” Al-Shehri told Arab News.
Obesity and diabetes disproportionately affects Saudi women, according to Health Ministry estimates. Some women rights advocates have argued that Saudi society doesn’t encourage women to engage in physical activities. For example, physical education curriculums are prohibited in girl’s primary schools in the Kingdom, and Saudi women don’t have as many outlets for activities like Saudi men do — such as football leagues.
“Obesity is a problem for almost 50 percent of women and many view the program as a good opportunity to lose weight without offending society,” said Al-Shehri.
Six Saudi competitors participated in the program over various seasons, of which three were women. The 31-year-old Saudi contestant Salima Al-Habshi was the only Saudi to make an impact after losing a third of her weight (101 kilograms) and emerged the winner in the show’s second season.
“‘The Biggest Winner’ changed my life completely,” said Salima, who continued to lose weight even after winning. Now she weighs a petite 70 kilograms, and “I train three hours, six days a week and enjoy it.” Salima said her biggest problem before she joined the program was the lack of self-esteem especially when people judged her because of her appearance. “I enjoy being a role model of determination for many Saudi women, who lack a healthy environment and facilities that have made them suffer from obesity,” she said. She added that many people come to her especially to ask for dietary tips and training.
However, women’s participation in any media program never comes without conditions. Al-Shehri pointed out that the involvement of any women contestant from the Gulf countries requires prior approval from her family.
Unlike many TV programs that are imported from the West, “The Biggest Winner” enjoys encouragement from many Saudis, especially health experts.
Reema Suleiman, a nutritionist from the Medical Specialized Hospital, noted that programs like “The Biggest Winner” have come late in a region that has a high obesity rate
“It is necessary to produce more programs that air beneficial subjects such as healthy lifestyle, proper eating habits and importance of sport activities because our society has no other source for such education,” said Suleiman, who hosts a nutrition show on Orbit TV channel. Some Saudis followed comprehensive dieting and exercise after watching the TV program. “The show is successful because it presents common people suffering from obesity as I do and their efforts to overcome it gradually in front of our eyes,” said 19-year-old Daniya Al-Mazroe as she worked out on her treadmill at Al-Manahil private women’s club.
Danya, who now weighs 89 kilograms, added: “No matter how much one weighs, the program shows, in reality that any amount of kilograms can be lost if there is a strong desire and persistence.”
But the program too has its detractors. Fitness instructor Mohammed Al-Saeedy said that despite the program’s positive influence in helping people understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle, the intensive focus on the disputes and relationship between contestants doesn’t serve the purpose of the program.
“The first two seasons, the program dedicated most of its time to showing the best of the trainers and nutritionists delivering their expertise and advises, but lately clashes among contestants have become the main focus of the daily episode,” he said. He added that the program can make a difference in improving the lifestyles of millions of people if it is used properly. “We need more programs to expose viewers to issues beyond dieting and exercises and introduce them to such things as how to calculate calories, measuring the heart rate and the best sport equipment that can be used in every house,” he said. Likewise, Nadia Abdullah finds “The Biggest Winner” both inspiring and disappointing.
“For many who practice dieting at home, it’s impossible to replicate the fitness routine because the environment in the show is different,” she said.
She noted that the participants in the program can focus only on their weight loss all day and can work out for up to five hours with access to all the inspiration, motivation and expertise of professional trainers. “In reality, this is impossible,” she said.
She told Arab News about her frustration once she started a strict diet regimen and excise program at a women’s club in Riyadh. While the television program contestant lost 15 kilograms in one week, she only lost two.
“This made me think that the show sets unrealistic expectation for home viewers,” she said.
