Final answer:
Switching to percentage weight loss improved fairness in 'The Biggest Loser' by considering individual starting weights, but it cannot fully eliminate the potential for some contestants to have an unfair advantage due to various personal factors. The competition became fairer to some extent but did not address all issues related to fairness in weight loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the reality television series 'The Biggest Loser, contestants who lost the most weight in a given period of time won a cash prize. To address concerns about fairness, the show adjusted its format to determine winners based on percentage weight loss rather than sheer weight loss numbers. This helped level the playing field by accounting for the fact that individuals starting at different weights have different capacities for absolute weight loss; thus, using percentages allows for a more equitable comparison.
However, even with this change, it is still possible that some contestants could have an unfair advantage depending on multiple factors such as initial body composition, metabolism, gender, and individual health conditions. Moreover, the psychological and strategic elements of the competition might also contribute to disparities. Therefore, while the switch to percentage weight loss made the competition fairer, it might not have completely eliminated all unfair advantages.
It is important to note that fairness in weight loss is a complex issue, and TV competitions such as 'The Biggest Loser' cannot fully address the multitude of factors that affect an individual’s ability to lose weight. Ultimately, the best approach to weight loss is a personalized one that considers the unique circumstances of each individual.