'Biggest Loser' Producers, Stars Defend Winner Rachel Frederickson

Credit: NBC

Rachel Frederickson has made headlines over the past two days, but not necessarily for winning Season 15 of The Biggest Loser. Instead, Frederickson has been catching hell in the media for her weight loss, as many feel she lost too much weight between her time filming The Biggest Loser and her return appearance for the final weigh-in at the finale. Basically, Frederickson was accused of losing an unhealthy amount of weight, and the show was similarly lambasted for allowing her weight loss to go so far.

But producers are defending Frederickson, and the show. In a statement to People, production company Shine America declared, "We support Rachel and all of 'The Biggest Loser' contestants who have shared their journeys over the past 15 seasons. We remain committed to helping contestants achieve healthy weight loss and live healthier lifestyles, and to inspiring viewers to do the same."

However, things are a bit more complicated than all that. According to an anonymous source on the show's staff, the production apparently knew how thin Rachel looked on finale night, but didn't think it was that big a deal. "Executives honestly thought that maybe she'd look okay and that no one would notice but people gasped," said the unnamed source.

Trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper have refused to comment on the situation, putting up statements on their respective Facebook pages in which they say they will not remark on Frederickson's weight loss since they weren't her trainer.

Frederickson's trainer, Dolvett Quince, added his thoughts on the situation in a statement to People. "Biggest Loser is a journey which has its ups and downs. Please try not to look at one slice of Rachel's journey and come to broad conclusions. Rachel's health is and always has been my main concern and her journey to good health has not yet ended!"

Fellow contestant Ruben Studdard is also backing Frederickson, as the American Idol winner stepped forward to proclaim his support for The Biggest Loser winner. "'The Biggest Loser' is about making changes in your life, she has most definitely done that ... she had a lot of setbacks that made her turn to food to cope with those things, and she's been able to overcome that, so I'm very proud of Rachel. I'm very proud of what she's become, she's the 'Biggest Loser' winner, and that's all I know," says Studdard.

For her part, Frederickson is satisfied with her weight loss, declaring that she has no plans on regaining any of it to quiet all the criticism about being unhealthy. "I'm in maintenance mode, so it's finding that balance," says Frederickson, in an interview with Zap2It. "I'm very fortunate that I'm at that point."

I wish her the best of luck. Maybe I just have terrible sight (hence the glasses), but she looked okay to me. All in all, I think this is a tempest in a teacup, as The Biggest Loser seemingly deals with this kind of controversy every season. "Is the process safe? The winner lost too much weight! They should end this show before someone dies!" Yes, Frederickson lost a lot of weight, but I don't think she looks unhealthy. What do you think? Does she look okay, or are people right to be concerned? Sound off in the comments!

Via: Zap2It