Hannah Curlee Young, once a standout contestant on the hit reality show The Biggest Loser, is speaking out amid a growing debate over the program’s methods. The Nashville-based wellness coach, 46, insists the show changed her life for the better, even as a new Netflix documentary casts a critical eye on the franchise.
Young first appeared on season 11 of The Biggest Loser in 2011, stunning audiences by shedding an incredible 120 pounds – more than eight stone – to finish runner-up to her sister Olivia Ward, who ultimately claimed the $250,000 prize. Over a decade later, Young says she has kept off most of the weight, maintaining a healthy 160 pounds – a slim U.S. size 8 – despite two pregnancies.
“I will always defend The Biggest Loser,” Young says. “I don’t know where I’d be without it. Honestly, I don’t think I’d even be here today.”
Now married to personal trainer Pate Young, 45, since 2015, she balances family life with her two children, Milo, nine, and Margot, 20 months, while running a health business alongside her sister. “The show gave me the confidence to date again, to change careers, to start a family,” she reflects. “Seeds were planted back then that are still bearing fruit today.”
Her candid remarks come in response to Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, a three-part Netflix series that premiered last month. The documentary revisits the NBC juggernaut, which aired for 17 seasons between 2004 and 2016 and briefly returned in 2020, questioning whether its rapid weight-loss methods came at too high a cost. Several former contestants allege that they endured punishing workouts, extreme calorie restriction, and long-term health consequences.
The show’s dramatic “before and after” moments – with contestants losing 100 to 200 pounds in just a few months – drew criticism from medical professionals even at the time. Watching the Netflix series, Young admits, was emotionally challenging. “It was hard to watch,” she says. “But it only told one side of the story. It made contestants seem like victims – that’s not my story. I walked into that show feeling like a victim. I left as a champion in my own life.”
From Struggle to Transformation
Before stepping on the ranch, Young weighed 248 pounds and faced multiple health challenges, including pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and severe depression. She also struggled with infertility and had largely withdrawn from social life due to her weight. “My life was very hard, and my weight influenced every decision I made – the car I drove, the clothes I wore, even the people I spent time with,” she recalls.
By the finale, she had reached 128 pounds, a transformation that impacted both her physical health and mental well-being. She credits trainer Jillian Michaels for helping her confront deep-seated issues. “The mental shift was night and day. I’d been in such a negative, downtrodden place. I thought there was no hope.”
Despite the Netflix documentary portraying the show as harsh and exploitative, Young disputes claims that contestants were forced into grueling routines. “We trained with Jillian and Bob [Harper] maybe two or three times a week for three hours, and that was with 20 other people. The rest was walking, hiking, cardio. Nobody forced us to do anything. We were adults.”
She adds that contestants received robust medical and psychological support throughout filming, including regular check-ups, stress tests, and counseling. “There was never anyone making us eat certain things or forcing us to work out. If you didn’t want to go to a session, you didn’t have to.”
A Cultural Phenomenon With a Controversial Legacy
At its peak, The Biggest Loser was a ratings powerhouse, attracting millions of viewers and inspiring international versions. Yet questions about the sustainability of its rapid transformations have lingered. A 2016 study of season eight contestants found that many regained significant weight, partly due to a slowed metabolism following extreme weight loss.
Trainers like Michaels and Harper have defended the program, emphasizing the inspiration it provided to viewers worldwide. Young echoes that sentiment while acknowledging that the show wasn’t perfect. “Not everyone had the same experience,” she admits. “But for me, the benefits far outweighed any negatives. It was life-changing. Blaming the show for where you are today isn’t taking accountability.”
Public reaction to the Netflix documentary has been intense, with social media debates dividing former fans. Some argue the show’s methods were dangerous, while others insist it motivated them to take control of their health. Young’s story offers a counterpoint, showing a long-term, positive outcome that the series largely overlooked.
Life Beyond the Ranch
More than a decade after her television debut, Young maintains strong relationships with trainers, producers, and fellow contestants. She has no regrets about her time on the show and says it provided a “second chance at life.”
“The Biggest Loser gave me confidence, health, and opportunities I never imagined,” she says. “It gave me a fresh start. I’m still using the lessons I learned there every day, in my work, my marriage, and my family life.”
Her wellness business, run alongside her sister Olivia, focuses on helping clients build sustainable healthy habits rather than chasing rapid results. She draws on her experience to guide others through challenges, blending practical fitness strategies with emotional support.
“I want people to understand that change is possible, but it takes time, effort, and patience,” she says. “I wouldn’t be able to do this if it weren’t for the foundation I got on that show.”
A Complicated Legacy
While The Biggest Loser remains controversial, Hannah Curlee Young’s story reminds viewers that outcomes are not one-size-fits-all. Some former contestants faced long-term setbacks, but for Young, the program provided the structure, motivation, and guidance she needed to reclaim her life.
Her journey is also a testament to perseverance and self-belief. Losing more than 100 pounds, maintaining that weight loss for over a decade, raising a family, and launching a business are monumental achievements by any measure. Her experience highlights the complexity behind reality television: for some, it’s a springboard to transformation; for others, it comes with challenges that are harder to overcome.
As the Netflix series sparks conversation and debate, Young hopes the public will see the full picture. “The show gave me a life I never thought possible,” she says. “I faced my demons, I grew stronger, and I learned to believe in myself. That’s the part I want people to remember.”
Even as criticism grows, her story remains a powerful reminder that change is possible when support, discipline, and self-determination align. For Hannah Curlee Young, The Biggest Loser was more than a TV show – it was a turning point that transformed her life in ways she still cherishes today.
