NBC's reality show The Biggest Loser returns this fall on September 11 for a fourth season. Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives) joins the show this year, replacing Caroline Rhea as the host. The Biggest Loser provides 17 severely overweight contestants from all across the country the opportunity to shed pounds in a safe manner through diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000.

Alison Sweeney, along with a executive producer Mark Koops, held a conference call in which she discussed the upcoming season, Hollywood's unrealistic body image and how much she enjoyed getting to know the new contestants.

Sweeney admitted to having problems with her weight throughout her life. Even from the beginning of her career, finding time to work out while juggling work on the set of Days of Our Lives and attending high school has always been a challenge. She made changes in her nutrition and learned how to hit the gym, but it's an ongoing struggle for her, especially after the birth of her son Ben two years ago.

Sweeney praises her producers at Days for embracing a diversity of sizes and shapes in the cast. She says that there is a different perception of thinness in Hollywood, but after re-evaluating herself, she has decided that instead of being thin, she wants to be healthy in order to play sports and to play with son. She admits, though, that she has been told by other actors that she is overweight and that she has been denied certain jobs because of her weight.

Executive producer Mark Koops said that on The Biggest Loser, they want to emphasize lifestyle changes instead of merely diet changes. The trainers find out what works for each contestant and tailors their weight loss to work for them as individuals.

The twist in store for this season is that former Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels will be returning to lead a third team to compete for the prize.

The thing that surprised Sweeney most about hosting the show was that how emotionally connected she because with each and every contestant. She said that when she watches reality television at home, she always picks a favorite and roots for that one to win, but she wanted all the contestants on The Biggest Loser to win.

And not only did she get to know them, she worked out alongside the contestants as well. As Mark Koops explained, she was either very brave or very crazy to participate in the trainers' workouts.

There will be a one-hour Biggest Loser special airing on September 4 at 8PM in which contestants from past seasons come back to show us where they are now in their journey with weight loss.


-Debbie Chang, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)