A new Netflix docuseries exploring the making of reality show The Biggest Loser features trainer Bob Harper opening up about his near-fatal heart attack after the series ended. The three-part programme, titled Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, streams from today (15 August).
Harper, who was a celebrity trainer on the show for a decade and later hosted its final seasons, suffered a heart attack in 2017 while working out at the age of 52. He told NBC News: 'I was in the gym, the next thing I knew I woke up in a hospital two days later being told that I had a heart attack and that I immediately went into cardiac arrest.' He was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia, a hereditary condition that raises cholesterol levels.
The health scare led to an identity crisis for Harper, who was renowned for his fitness. 'I went through an identity crisis I didn't know who I was,' he said. 'I went through a lot of depression because of it.'
Harper's ongoing health struggles were also highlighted during his appearance on the US version of The Traitors last year. In one challenge, he struggled to carry a heavy statue and broke down in tears. 'I had less than a 20% chance of surviving [the heart attack] and I did,' he said. 'Realising that I have to redefine who I am, it's just really hard.'
Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser features interviews with former contestants, producers and health professionals, examining the show's impact on participants' lives.
