Obesity Survivor and Biggest Loser Contestant Highlights Benefits of Weight Loss
Bill Germanakos, who came first in the fourth season, told the news provider he had lost almost exactly half his weight (170 lbs).
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January 6, 2010
The NBC show The Biggest Loser may be a piece of entertainment, but behind the fun and games are real human stories, many of them tinged with struggle and suffering. As its third couples edition debuted on Tuesday, CNN spoke with some of the past winners who shared their inspiring stories.
One of them is Bill Germanakos, who came first in the fourth season. He told the news provider he had lost almost exactly half his weight (170 lbs), and although he gained some additional body mass after the show ended, he has maintained what his doctor consider to be a healthy 210 lbs for the last two years.
Germanakos is also thriving as a motivational speaker, "paying it forward" by educating Americans about healthy living.
"The show not only saved my life by giving me the education that I needed about diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle, but it also afforded me the opportunity to entirely change my career," the 43-year-old told CNN.
The Centers for Disease Control cites statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that suggest an estimated 32.7 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are overweight, a total of 34.3 percent are obese and 5.9 percent are extremely obese.
Many people have been able to achieve satisfying results with physical exercise, diet - which can be determined with the help of a registered dietetician - as well as mental counseling. For others a gastric bypass surgery may be the best option.
Individuals looking for support and guidance may turn to the American Public Health Association or explore the resources of The Obesity Society.
The NBC show The Biggest Loser may be a piece of entertainment, but behind the fun and games are real human stories, many of them tinged with struggle and suffering. As its third couples edition debuted on Tuesday, CNN spoke with some of the past winners who shared their inspiring stories.
One of them is Bill Germanakos, who came first in the fourth season. He told the news provider he had lost almost exactly half his weight (170 lbs), and although he gained some additional body mass after the show ended, he has maintained what his doctor consider to be a healthy 210 lbs for the last two years.
Germanakos is also thriving as a motivational speaker, "paying it forward" by educating Americans about healthy living.
"The show not only saved my life by giving me the education that I needed about diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle, but it also afforded me the opportunity to entirely change my career," the 43-year-old told CNN.
The Centers for Disease Control cites statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that suggest an estimated 32.7 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 years and older are overweight, a total of 34.3 percent are obese and 5.9 percent are extremely obese.
Many people have been able to achieve satisfying results with physical exercise, diet - which can be determined with the help of a registered dietetician - as well as mental counseling. For others a gastric bypass surgery may be the best option.
Individuals looking for support and guidance may turn to the American Public Health Association or explore the resources of The Obesity Society.
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