MAIN Pop Culture Reality TV Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser: The show that changes lives and inspires a nation.

A whole new edition of Biggest Loser premiers on January 5, 2010 featuring the hit reality show's biggest contestant ever, Michael Ventrella, a Chicago-based DJ who weighs in at 526 pounds. He will partner with his mom, Maria, a 51-year-old corporate travel agent.

Biggest Loser Season 9 also introduces cousins Sam and Koli and identical twins James and John.

But perhaps the most poignant story belongs to married couple Melissa and Lance, who are not only competing to lose weight, but to earn back each others respect - and possibly save their marriage.

Other contestants this season, made up mostly of parent-child partners, include:

Mom Patti Anderson, 55, a business owner, and daughter Stephanie Anderson, 29, a radio sales executive, from Lafayette and West Hollywood, California.

Mom Cherita Andrews a 50-year-old homemaker and daughter Vicky Andrews, a 22-year-old student from Houston, Texas.

Mom Miggy Cancel, 48, a Pemberton, New Jersey chef and daughter Migdalia Sebren, 28, a homemaker from Sanford, North Carolina.

Mom Cheryl George a 50-year-old store-owner and son, Daris George, 25, a salesman, from Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Father O'Neal Hampton, Jr., a U.S. Postal Service station manager, 51, and daughter SunShine Hampton, 24, a restaurant server, from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Father Darrell Hough, a press operator and mechanic, 46, and daughter Andrea Hough, a 24-year-old executive assistant from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Mom Sherry Johnston, a 51-year-old non-profit administrator and daughter Ashley Johnston, a 27-year-old manager and esthetician from Knoxville, Tennessee.

All About the Biggest Loser

The first reality series where everybody loses, "The Biggest Loser" offers severely overweight participants the opportunity to undergo a radical physical makeover without any kind of surgery.

The series challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. The unscripted and life-altering reality series gathers contestants from across the country to face real-life temptations, while being provided with approved weight-loss skills and resources in an effort to help them transform their bodies, health -- and ultimately -- their lives.

The show provides strong-willed and hopeful contestants with challenges, temptations, weigh-ins and eliminations until the final contestant remains to claim the title of "the biggest loser." Each team works out under the supervision of professional trainers.

The series has become a worldwide hit airing in over 75 territories with 25 local productions. It has also produced two New York Times best-selling books and a burgeoning online lifestyle club www.biggestloserclub.com that allows those at home to learn all they need to live a healthier life.

More about the Biggest Loser around the Web:

The Biggest Loser - The official site on NBC.com. Video, pictures, team standings, episode updates, cast bios, where are they now for last season's cast, game play rules, weight loss information, games, tools, calculators, diet center and inspiration for those of us tackling those few, or not so few, pesky pounds.

The Biggest Loser - BuddyTV - The latest updates with cast profiles, news on who's in and who's out, recent spoilers and rumors.

The Biggest Loser - TV.com - Features photos and news, cast bios, episode recaps, and more.

The Biggest Loser - Reality Blurred - Updates and info on the show as it winds down and more as it gets ready to begin a new season with plenty of links to other reality TV offerings.

also see in Health -> Calories in Foods

Dieting | Fitness | Nutrition

also in Reality TV-> I Can Make You Thin