We know that loads of reality TV is constructed and yet I always do a double take when I hear about a reality deception when it happens in a show I didn't suspect of practising such a reality low.
Turns out the contestants on the American version of The Biggest Loser are manipulated to such an extent that they aren't allowed to kiss until they're thin enough. I know, it sounds too far fetched to be true but I believe it is because of how low it is.
According to Season 3 runner-up, Kai Hibbard, the show has various romantic subplots which they work into the relationships between the contestants. These subplots unfold very slowly over weeks so that the contestants involved are thinner when they hook-up. Kai says the reason this happens is because the show thinks viewers don't want to see overweight people kissing.
I've just read this tasty interview she did with Cracked about her experience on the show ... here's a link:
5 Details They Cut From My Season of 'The Biggest Loser'.
In it she claims that the weigh-ins and scales are skewed and goes so far as to say that she was mentally ruined afterwards.
Which of course means she might be out of her mind and none of it happened but I can't help believing her ...
*10 minutes later* ... Also, check this out, I've just found another interview with her in which she claims that the show gave her an eating disorder:
Bigger Loser Finalist Says Show Gave Her An Eating Disorder.