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"The Biggest Loser 9" contestants
"The Biggest Loser 9" contestants - © NBC
175 PICTURES
Michael Ventrella and Maria Ventrella in "Biggest Loser 9" Andrea Hough and Darrell Hough in "Biggest Loser 9"
The Biggest Loser Pictures
 
"The Biggest Loser" Season 9 features the heaviest cast ever. 22 contestants—eleven family teams of two—come to "The Biggest Loser" Season 9 ranch hoping to transform their bodies, their health and ultimately, their lives. Alison Sweeney hosts the series and contestants work out under the supervision of trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

The new "The Biggest Loser" Season 9 players include Maria Ventrella and Michael Ventrella (Chicago, Illinois), an Italian mother-son duo who have always put others first while Michael's weight soared to 526 lbs., identical twins James Crutchfield and John Crutchfield (Orlando, Florida), who together weigh close to half a ton, Tongan cousins Sam Poueu and Koli Palu (Rohnert Park, California), who hope to inspire others in their culture like Sione Fa and Filipe Fa did in Season 7, and Cherita Andrews (Houston, Texas), a competitive mother who has already beat cancer and is ready to take on obesity along with her determined daughter, Vicky Andrews.

For "The Biggest Loser" Season 9, NBC is partnering with General Mills, Feeding America, Subway and 24 Hour Fitness on the Pound For Pound Challenge, which began in season seven of the show. Viewers can go online and for every pound of weight loss pledged, a pound of groceries will be delivered to a local food bank. Over 3.5 million pounds of groceries have been delivered to local food banks as a result of this program. And the need has never been greater, as one in six Americans may not always have access to the food they need and 49 million Americans now struggle with hunger. The Pound For Pound Challenge allows viewers to help themselves get healthy while helping to fight hunger in their own communities.

On "The Biggest Loser" Season 9, Alison Sweeney challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000.

"The Biggest Loser" has become a worldwide hit airing in over 90 countries and produced in 25 countries. Since its debut in 2004, "The Biggest Loser" has grown to become a standalone health and lifestyle brand by developing tools and products inspired by the show and approved by its doctors and experts. Anchored by the online, subscription-based extension of the show, Biggestloserclub•com, The Biggest Loser Meal Plan, The New York Times best-selling books series, best-selling fitness DVD series, a line of appliances, fitness equipment, protein supplements and countless other health and lifestyle based products, "The Biggest Loser" consumer products program has generated over $50 million in spending with presence at more than 25,000 major retailers to date.

"The Biggest Loser" Season 9 is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("A Model Life with Petra Nemcova," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), JD Roth ("Age of Love," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unan1mous," "Beauty and the Geek") and Mark Koops ("Breakthrough With Tony Robbins," "Shear Genius") serve as executive producers.






THE BIGGEST LOSER: FACTS

Network: NBC
Genre: Reality
Runtime: 60 mins.
Premiere Date: October 19, 2004
Seasons: 9
Production Company: Reveille LLC
25/7 Productions
3Ball Productions




THE BIGGEST LOSER: NEWS (29)

"The Biggest Loser 9" contestants'Biggest Loser' Season 9 Contestants Weigh In at Heaviest Ever — Premiering on Tuesday, January 5, the new season of the weight-loss reality competition features the heaviest contestant ever at 526 lbs. and identical twins weighing in together at close to 1,000 lbs. Read more...
Elisabeth Moss on "Mad Men"NBC Breezes into November Sweeps — Highlights include an all-new DreamWorks animated special "Merry Madagascar," the special "The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now?" and many guest stars, including Elisabeth Moss, Tim Gunn, Jerry Stiller, Megan Mullally, Erika Christensen, Elisabeth Rohm, Rod Woodson, Jeff Dunham, John Laroquette, Jayma Mays, Jimmy Fallon and Christine Lahti. Read more...
Jillian MichaelsIn 'Losing It with Jillian' Michaels Takes to the Road — In "The Biggest Loser" spin-off series, the renowned fitness trainer and wellness expert criss-crosses America and moves in with unhealthy families to help get them off their collective couches and put their lives back on more rewarding tracks. Read more...
SEE ALL "THE BIGGEST LOSER" NEWS (29)




Season 9