Pet Fit Club, "Biggest Loser"-style Competition, Battles Pet Obesity

Published April 9, 2012

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The "Pet Fit Club", a "Biggest Loser"-style weight loss competition for pets, battles the pet obesity epidemic.

Is "The Biggest Loser", a television show that focuses on the weight loss aspirations for individuals, releasing an edition of the show for pets? Not quite, but one British charity interested in helping animals is riffing off the hit reality show, adopting their format for their own pet weight loss competition.

According to the New York Daily News, a charity called the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals is running a "Biggest Loser"-style weight loss competition titled the "Pet Fit Club". The aim of the competition is to help extremely overweight pets lose the weight they need in order to be deemed healthy again.

The finalists in this year's competition are dangerously overweight, far beyond the acceptable realm of being cute in a pleasantly plump kind of way. On the contrary, the pets involved have obesity issues that are hindering their quality of life. In a YouTube video put out by the charity that displays the finalists in the Pet Fit Club competition, viewers see how daily tasks, such as climbing a flight of stairs, become difficult and laborious.

Read: Are our pets losing the battle to obesity?

So what will the Pet Fit Club entail? The competition will feature a six-month regimen of healthy eating and exercise for the pets, marked by periodic weigh-ins overseen by trained veterinary professionals. In addition to helping shape up these out of shape pets, the program will provide education and advice to owners, a crucial part of the Pet Fit Club since most pet obesity problems begin due to owner's not being informed.

While the competition is helping animals on an individual level, it is also raising awareness about the pet obesity epidemic on a macro scale. While the competition focuses mainly on how this epidemic is affecting the UK, it simultaneously works to raise awareness about an issue which has quickly become a global trend.

Watch the PDSA's YouTube video of its Pet Fit Club finalists below:

What do you think about the Pet Fit Club's efforts to combat pet obesity? Share your thoughts in a comment!

Ryan Karpusiewicz Ryan Karpusiewicz is the Assistant Editor, Lifestyle, for Digital Works @ NBC U, whose main…

Filed Under: Health & Home, News & Blogs, Nutrition, News
Tags: Cats, Dogs, fat cat, overweight animals, pet obesity

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Comments (17)

donald duck lover (Unverified)

Added 04-13-2012 07:25am

The "plumpist" pets are usually owned by elder population. They equate food and treats to love. Maybe it has to do with the fact that many are from the depression age group and they don't want to deprive their pets with food to keep them happy.

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Myname (Unverified)

Added 04-13-2012 03:32am

One important factor in pet obesity is the amount of corn meal in their diet. Corn is fed to cattle to fatten them up, and corn meal will do the same for your pet. Look in specialty pet stores to find quality, corn-free dry food. Cats especially should not have corn meal in their diets since they are pure carnivores, unlike dogs who are omnivorous. Wellness brand cat food is excellent, and there are others - read the ingredients! Real meat should be the FIRST ingredient in dry cat food, not corn meal.

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JUNE MCKINNEY (Unverified)

Added 04-11-2012 10:36am

THANK GOD THERE IS PEOPLE THAT TREATS ANIMALS LIKE LIVING BEINGS. YES, I TOTALLY 1OO% AGREE THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. ITS SO UNFAIR TO ANIMALS THAT WE JUST LET THEM STUFF THEMSELVES, AND SOME ARE STUFFERS MY NATURE LIKE MOST OF US IF WE ALLOW OURSELVES THE PLEASURE.

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Incredible Discoveries (Unverified)

Added 04-11-2012 09:13am

I would like to include my dog and be one of the finalists on this year's competition. Incredible Discoveries

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Judy at PetFitNation (Unverified)

Added 04-10-2012 10:47am

Thank you for bringing attention to this unnecessary state of our furry friends. I have a large maine coon and was, of course, concerned about protecting him from all the illnesses related to pet obesity. But - I did not have a scale.... How can I protect my big boy, Remy, without a scale......guessing is not an option for me. My Remy is the reason I patented the first affordable, pet-friendly, in-home pet scale. Finally, there is a better weigh to keep our furry kids fit and healthy and happy :) ! We are working hard to get this scale on the market as soon as possible. Join our mailing list at http://www.petfitnation.com for availability updates!