"Biggest Loser" Students

I recognize that the following entry isn't about food so you may be wondering why I included it on a blog all about food. It is about health, and I found it really interesting when I came across this....I hope you will too!

Following my nutrition class I decide to make a quick stop in the ladies' room before heading home. I enter a stall, close the door and I am faced with this "Weight Loss Challenge" poster. My first response: Looks like my school's Health Promotion team is up to a so-your-new-years-resolution-weight-loss plan-attempt-didn't-work-out-so-well remedy, but as I looked at this poster a little longer I became more interested and more concerned at the same time. Why is that? I'd like to point out what jumped out at me and encourage you to think about it also

1. I noticed the numbers in the top left hand corner next to the photo first. I notice that the numbers start at 275 and go down to 125...is this a proposed weight loss plan for someone weighing 275lbs when they start this challenge? Perhaps even worse, does this suggest that someone who is currently 125lbs should be concerned about their weight such that they join?

2. 'Top 3 "Losers" Win Cash' - Get skinny and rich at the same time? What about someone who is a "gainer", improving health by increasing muscle mass perhaps without a real drop in weight....no cash for them?

3. 9-week program - With a recommendation by Health Canada to lose 1-2 lbs a week for safe weight loss, is 9 weeks a tad short? Certainly compared to the weight loss suggested next to the picture on the top left! Better yet, it even says "lose 2-4lbs each week" - how safe is that?

4. 30 Min Nutrition class - Is that 30 minutes total in a 9-week program? Now, I don't claim to be an expert, but I lead a basic healthy eating class and I can barely get the basics covered in 1 hour.

As a nutrition student, and future health care professional, I found this poster upsetting. Is this really the type of message we want to be sending people about healthy weights?