Category: biggest loser 17

Rudy Pauls
Age: 31
Height: 6’4″
Hometown: Brooklyn, CT
Occupation: Engineer

NBC Bio
Rudy is larger than life — a real-life Paul Bunyan! He is a fun-loving, easygoing “teddy bear” who still chops wood the old fashioned way. He admits to being an emotional kid and being teased. This was the start of him using food as comfort. In order to keep his weight in check, his parents kept him active in all sports such as swimming, soccer, basketball and baseball. His sister passed away from leukemia when she was just 16. Throughout her sickness, Rudy ate himself through the pain.

Rudy earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he was a four-year starter on their varsity football team. Since leaving college, he has struggled with his weight while trying to balance his job and family. Rudy currently works as a Senior Production Technician at a power station in Rhode Island. His weight keeps him from doing his job to his best abilities, as he is often tired, short of breath and unable to fit into tight areas.

Rudy’s family is the reason he wants to be healthy. Rudy’s daughters are his life; having the energy to chase them around the yard, or sit down for the occasional tea party would mean the world to him. He dreams of the day he gets to walk his girls down the aisle.

Rebecca Meyer
Age: 25
Height: 5’6″
Hometown: Des Moines, IA
Occupation: Student/Nanny

NBC Bio
Rebecca grew up the “baby” of four, a role that has made her the sassy yet sweet girl she is today. Rebecca had struggled every day for the last 14 years with her weight, being the heaviest in her family. At the age of 17 she starved herself and lost close to 80 pounds, but four years later and out of high school, she gained all the weight back, plus an extra 50 pounds. Rebecca was active in sports and R.O.T.C. in school and had planned on a career in the military, but could never reach the weight limit. Rebecca wants to lead a healthy life more than anything and for the first time she believes that she deserves, wants and needs this opportunity. She plans on being a good sport all while winning one challenge after the other!

Mozziz “Mo” Dewalt
Age: 56
Height: 6’2″
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Occupation: Youth Mentor

NBC Bio
Mo may seem intimidating with his size and deep voice, but is really just a big teddy bear. Mo spends almost all of his time working with and dealing with the problems of others. He is a CEO and founder of a youth organization where he works diligently with impoverished youth in the community, focusing on academic excellence, physical exercise, athletic training and competition. He has been featured in the news and in local newspapers for being such an inspiration to the youth in his community.

Mo received college scholarships for Division I football and basketball, but has struggled with his weight over the past 20 years. He feels that if he is successful in losing weight he will set an example for his family members who are overweight, and for the youth that he works with to become healthy and fit. With the help of “The Biggest Loser,” he can prove to the youth of Louisville once and for all that with hard work and determination, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.

Liz Young
Age: 49
Height: 5’7″
Hometown: Chapel Hill, TN
Occupation: Salesperson

NBC Bio
Liz is an enthusiastic grandma who loves to eat. Having lived on a country farm most of her adult life, she loves to cook hearty meals for her husband and family. Liz and her family grew up being quite fit. When she had her first child she went from 127 pounds to 350 pounds and has never been able to keep the weight off. She went as far as having a tummy tuck to shed some of the excess weight and skin. After her husband had bypass surgery, she realized she really needed to get serious about losing the weight.

Liz’s grandkids are the light of her life, but she just cannot muster the energy to play with them as much as she would like. After working out and (attempting to) eat right for an entire year, she saw no change in her weight. Liz’s frustration has led her to believe that “The Biggest Loser” is her only answer!

Julio Gomez
Age: 40
Height: 6’0″
Hometown: Algonquin, IL
Occupation: Mortgage Loan Officer

NBC Bio
Julio is an “Alpha Dog” that always has a smile on his face. His personality is equaled by his kindness, generosity and love for his family. Julio is the son of Cuban immigrants that fled Communism in the early 1960s. The youngest of three boys, he relied on his charm, wit and good looks to stand out in a crowd. Julio grew up on Cuban food, which eventually led to his weight gain.

Julio works as a mortgage loan officer, a job that requires intelligence and a strong ability to communicate, which has become increasingly difficult due to his weight. Julio would love to become healthy, fit and energetic once again so he may lead his overweight wife and two athletic daughters down the right path. Do not be fooled by his humor, Julio is here to be Season 8’s Biggest Loser!

Dina Mercado
Age: 28
Height: 5’5″
Hometown: Commerce, CA
Occupation: Custodian

NBC Bio
Dina grew up in a typical Mexican family. Her home life consisted of many extended relatives in one household. Her grandmother and mother were the cooks in the family. They prepared food with lard, rice and beans for every meal. Needless to say, Dina’s bad food habits started at a young age. When she was in middle school, her weight began to escalate with the death of her grandmother, with whom she was very close.

After the birth of her son, Dina’s weight problems continued, manifesting in a 30-pound weight gain. She was devastated when told by doctors that her weight was keeping her from bearing more children.

Dina has never had a steady regimen of exercise nor a structured diet plan. Her excuse has been that she is too busy because of her involvement with her son’s sports programs and her volunteer work. Dina now realizes that she has made a lot of bad choices and that this type of lifestyle cannot continue any longer.

Danny Cahill
Age: 39
Height: 5’11”
Hometown: Broken Arrow, OK
Occupation: Land Surveyor/ Musician

NBC Bio
Danny was overweight from age 7 to 15. He knew that he would be ridiculed in high school so he worked hard and lost 75 pounds. Danny became very popular and was the envy of all the guys. Being in a band also added to his allure. However, after high school his weight steadily increased through the years.

Danny currently coaches his son’s football team each year and would love to be able to do more with his young, energetic children. Walking around with over 427 pounds all day is exhausting, and taking care of himself has always come second to taking care of everyone else.

Danny feels his children are following in his footsteps and are starting to struggle with their weight. His seven-year-old daughter has been caught hiding in the kitchen and secretly eating. His son, although athletic, is starting to be rewarded for his size because of his performance in football. Danny’s wife also struggles with weight and should lose about 100 pounds. Danny needs “The Biggest Loser” to save him from this unhealthy lifestyle. He does not want to leave his wife and children early in life.

Allen Smith
Age: 44
Height: 5’11”
Hometown: Columbus, IN
Occupation: Firefighter/EMT

NBC Bio
Allen grew up a middle child in a large family that found comfort in food. It was not until well into his adult life that he paid the ultimate price. Allen has gained well over a hundred pounds since his days as a young college student.

The pressure of his obesity has finally made an impact on Allen’s career as a firefighter. His brothers at the department ride him about his weight and are scared they may lose one of their own in the near future. Everyday Allen feels the pressure of putting his life and his fellow firefighter’s lives at risk. He is worried that he may not pass the physical this year and is ready to grab this addiction to food by the horns. Allen’s daughter is the apple of his eye and he does not want her to be teased about her overweight father anymore. Allen wants to make the lifestyle change that will help him become a better husband, father and community servant.