In 2018, Saki Skourlis almost halved. The native of Nuremberg with Greek roots lost from his initial weight of 189.6 kilograms to 94.5 kilograms to 95.1 kilograms in the “Biggest Loser” phase that lasted almost six months. In the Sat1 show, no one could beat the ambitious French woman – she took home fame and glory and a suitcase containing 50,000 euros.

This is also the dream of the 16th season candidates who started broadcasting on Sat1 last week. At the beginning of the season, Saki posted on her Instagram account for the first time in six months. He previously released the last “live” picture of himself in August 2021. For good reason: Saki has gained weight again. In his post, he said that he weighed 140 kilograms again. Three of the season 16 candidates were lighter than him at the start. How could it have come to this?

Corona and knee injury: TBL champion Saki derailed

The Biggest Loser champion was honest with himself and his 4,000+ followers in his post. “I was active for a very long time at 110-115 kg,” he wrote, referring to his hobbies at the time: diving, obstacle courses, triathlons, mega marches. But then came Corona. During the pandemic, “sport changed a bit” and “inevitably changed less”.

As the situation normalized, a knee injury again threw him off course: “A little frustration came out,” he explained. Consequence: “In the last few months, I have consciously let myself go and put discipline aside.” He didn't like the result either: he weighed 140 kilograms again. “Wow, I have to say it doesn't feel that good. Life is better when you're lighter.”

Former candidate Chanté only had a sleeve gastrectomy

“I'm not happy with myself,” Saki said self-critically on “Bild,” “I've made myself comfortable.” That should change. “Discipline is returning. To be continued,” he wrote on Instagram. He wants to perform as “the greatest fighter” again. Next goal: preparing for a 10-kilometer obstacle course. “That's what I'm training for now, because I like extreme sports.”

From 190 to 95, back to 140. Saki is not alone in this yo-yo progress. Because successful weight loss on The Biggest Loser does not make for a permanently slim body. Chanté Jackson (25) can also sing the tragic song. He participated in the 13th season in 2021. Because he fell ill while filming on Naxos, he stopped his studies after five weeks and had already lost 24 kilograms.

Within a year of their TV adventure, they were back at it again. It was only at the end of 2021 that the gastric sleeve surgery made his dream of becoming “uhu” (“less than a hundred” kilos) come true: as he announced on Instagram, he lost a total of 30 kilograms. Currently, “Bild” reported shortly before the start of the new season that he weighs 88 kilos.

US study: 13 of 14 former participants suddenly gained weight again

The phenomenon is not limited to Germany's TBL contenders. In 2016, 14 former participants of the US edition of TBL participated in a study commissioned by Obesity magazine. It turned out that they had lost an average of 58 kilograms during the relay. After six years, however, they had regained an average of 41 kilograms. Only one participant managed to lose weight.

In the German TBL format, coaches Christine Theiss and Ramin Abtin give the candidates a hard time. And, of course, these are exciting, emotional and exciting images. But Theiss and Abtin repeatedly make it clear that “The Biggest Loser” can only be the beginning of a “new, simpler life.” TBL could only be a starting signal – albeit dramatized for television. Tenor: “What people do at home with what they have experienced and learned is up to them.”