Category: reality tv

Ron Morelli
54
Brown Team
Partner: Mike Morelli (Son)
Trainer: Bob
Retired
South Lyon, MI

NBC Bio
Ron has recently retired from the food distribution business that he was in for most of his career. He sits on the ZBA and city council and has been on the planning commission for his town. Ron has battled his weight his entire life, weighing over 200 pounds at just nine years old, and has yo-yo dieted to almost 500 pounds as an adult. Ron, like most people who are overweight, has tried everything to lose it. And like most, he lost a lot of weight only to gain it back, usually faster than he lost it. Currently at over 420 pounds and with both of his sons struggling with obesity, Ron realizes that his sons cannot follow in his path.

Mike Morelli
18
Brown Team
Partner: Ron Morelli (Father)
Trainer: Bob
Student
South Lyon, MI

NBC Bio
Mike loves sports and watches and plays as much as he can. Mike is currently getting ready to attend his first year of college with an ambition to become a surgeon. Mike’s weight has been an issue since he was in grade school. He has been on Youth Weight Watchers, Atkins, Weight Watchers and many others, but has never been able to keep his weight under control. Mike has seen his father struggle with weight since he was a child and does not wish to follow in the same footsteps. He sees, firsthand, how uncontrolled weight can tax the body and cause many problems. Mike has acknowledged the facts that if he does not lose weight he will not be able to accomplish his dreams of becoming a doctor.

Tara Costa
23
Green Team
Partner: Laura Denoux (Friend)
Trainer: Jillian
Analyst
New York, NY

NBC Bio
Tara is a very charming young lady who carries herself very well. She’s a “real” person, doesn’t sugarcoat it, and is easy to relate to. Growing up in a small town, Tara developed her loud and sparkling personality. In a single parent home, Tara’s mother taught her the necessity of self-achievement and independence. Since those lessons, Tara has become a plus-size model for a top New York modeling agency, graduated from New York University with honors, and accepted a financial analyst position at L’Oreal. With all this success, Tara feels she hasn’t accomplished the most important goal of all: losing weight. Tara has always been a bigger girl since she was young, and recently has gained more weight since working full-time. Now Tara, feeling more self-conscious than ever and frightened for her health, doesn’t feel comfortable being the same spontaneous and charismatic person she once was. Not only does Tara deserve a healthier lifestyle after all that she has already accomplished, but she also deserves the self-confidence, the spark and the smile that comes along with it.

Laura Denoux
24
Green Team
Partner: Tara Costa (Friend)
Trainer: Jillian
Sales
Miami, FL

NBC Bio
Laura is known as a social butterfly. She is a very giving, outgoing and an ambitious young woman. Growing up as an only child with divorced parents, Laura learned how to take care of herself at a very young age. Her whole life, she has always been “the big girl,” but after the loss of her father at age 15, Laura’s weight became uncontrollable. She has tried every diet, but to no avail. While attending Florida International University to study advertising and marketing, she started her career as a top sales director for a major cosmetic company. At Laura’s thinnest adult weight, she conquered her goal of becoming a plus-size model for a top Miami agency. During her career, her expectations were that she could eat whatever she wanted, because she was “plus-size.” To her surprise, clients did not want a model that was larger than a size 14! She needs this chance to get back in shape and to get her career and life back.

Cathy Skell
48
Purple Team
Partner: Kristin Steede (Daughter)
Trainer: Bob
Sales
Shiocton, WI

NBC Bio
Despite her weight, Cathy lives a fairly active life. Cathy is young at heart, but the older her body becomes, the more difficult it is for her to do the things she loves. Cathy’s struggle with her weight has been progressive over the last ten years. Recently both of Cathy’s parents were hospitalized due to heart conditions. She realizes the excessive weight around her midsection must come off soon before she finds herself in the same situation and fears the same for her daughter, Kristin. With Kristin at her side, she knows together they will do whatever it takes to transform their lives forever.

Kristin Steede
28
Purple Team
Partner: Cathy Skell (Mother)
Trainer: Bob
Business Owner
Greenville, WI

NBC Bio
Although Kristin has struggled with her weight most of her life, she has tried her best to not let that stand in the way of what she wants. Kristin is married to her high school sweetheart. They have been together for over 13 years and are more than ready to start their family, but now she finds that her excessive weight is the only thing standing in her way. As a self-employed business owner she is natural leader and is not afraid to take challenges head on. With her entrepreneurial lifestyle, she has moved a healthy diet and exercise to the bottom of her priorities. She is an emotional eater and turns to food in stressful situations. Kristin needs to re-program herself to get her weight under control before her biological clock runs out. With the unconditional love and support of her mother, combined with her desire to start a family, together they will let nothing and no one get in their way.

David Lee
23
Orange Team
Partner: Daniel Wright (Best Friend)
Trainer: Jillian
Student
Fuquay-Varina, NC

NBC Bio
David has made it a point in his life to not let his weight hold him back. Rather than being victimized by his weight problem, he looks for fun times, is not afraid of going out, and even conquered his fear of going shirtless to the pool. David’s competitive nature is well known by his friends. He hates to lose and will fight diligently to succeed at what he sets out to do. One of David’s biggest problems with losing weight is his love of comfort and hatred of change. Eating unhealthy foods and not exercising is comfortable, but losing the weight would require a dramatic change of lifestyle for David, making it difficult for him to keep up.

Daniel Wright
19
Orange Team
Partner: David Lee (Best Friend)
Trainer: Jillian
Student
Willow Spring, NC

NBC Bio
Daniel is an intellectual and caring person with an extraordinary character and attitude towards life. He always strives to do his best in everything. He also loves his friends dearly and is a great friend to have because he tries to put others before himself. However, this is sometimes detrimental to Daniel and his weight-loss efforts. He is a very competitive person who hates to lose at anything, although he would not mind losing a lot of weight! The weight is a big hindrance to him in his life.