The Biggest Loser helped many of its trainers — including Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels — find fame — but where is everyone now following the show’s past controversy?
NBC’s The Biggest Loser, which premiered in 2004, followed a group of people deemed overweight who would compete in a 30-week competition. The goal was to lose as many pounds as possible to be crowned “the biggest loser.”
The competition series quickly became a cultural phenomenon as viewers tuned in weekly to see Michaels, Harper and later other trainers. The Biggest Loser later received criticism for allegedly pushing contestants to lose weight through intense exercise and calorie-restricted diets.
Netflix’s Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser addressed the negative backlash but only Harper participated in the docuseries.
“Always remember we were trying to make an entertaining show,” he said in the August 2025 doc. “What’s more important for weight loss? We all know it’s diet, but that becomes boring television. You know what’s not boring television? To see us in a gym yelling, screaming.”
He continued: “Producers loved that s***. They were like, ‘We want them to puke! We want the madness of it all!’ … I will stand behind everything that I’ve ever done on that show. I am proud of what I have done.”
Michaels, for her part, clapped back at several allegations from the show after choosing not to participate. Keep scrolling to see where each trainer is now after The Biggest Loser came to an end:
Bob Harper
Harper was part of the show every season as a trainer before taking over as the new host in Alison Sweeney‘s place. He suffered a heart attack in February 2017 and has since retired. Harper made his reality TV return in 2025 as a contestant on season 3 of Peacock’s The Traitors.
Harper has been married to husband Anton Gutierrez since 2019.
Jillian Michaels
Michaels took part in the first two seasons of The Biggest Loser before being replaced by Kim Lyons. Michaels returned to the reality show in 2007 and was also a trainer in the Australian version of the show from 2006 to 2008.
Michaels exited The Biggest Loser in 2011 before returning for season 14. Her final season was in 2013, and she didn’t come back again before The Biggest Loser ended its original run in 2016.
In addition to The Biggest Loser, Michaels had her own one-season spinoff Losing It With Jillian and appeared on The Doctors. She also cohosted Spike’s Sweat, INC and scored her own short-lived E! reality series, Just Jillian.
Off screen, Michaels dated Heidi Rhoades from 2009 to 2018 and they expanded their family with two kids before their split. Michaels has been married to fashion designer Deshanna Marie Minuto since 2022.
Michaels made headlines in August 2025 for her comments about slavery and race while on a panel on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip about President Donald Trump‘s order for a review of the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibits.
Kim Lyons
Lyons was a trainer on seasons 3 and 4 of The Biggest Loser before competing on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior in 2014. She has been married to bodybuilder Gunter Schlierkamp since 2007, with whom she shares one son.
Brett Hoebel
Hoebel was a trainer on season 11 and is now the founder of Hoebel Fitness and Sweat With Soul.
Cara Castronuova
Castronuova joined Hoebel on season 11 after previously rising to fame as a boxing champion. More recently, Castronuova became a reporter for The Gateway Pundit and Newsmax, according to her LinkedIn.
Dolvett Quince
Quince trained contestants from 2011 to 2016 on The Biggest Loser. He is now focused on his company Tabula Rasa and raising his son, Isiah.
Anna Kournikova
Season 12 introduced Us to Kournikova in a trainer role. The professional tennis player shares three kids with partner Enrique Iglesias.
Jessie Pavelka
Pavelka trained contestants on season 16 while balancing running his wellness company Pavelka. He shares a son with his ex-wife, Sitara Hewitt, and is currently dating Therese V. Pham.
Jennifer Widerstrom
Both seasons 16 and 17 featured Widerstrom as a trainer. In addition to being a vice president of coaching for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Pump app, Widerstrom cohosts “The Kids Table” podcast with Gunnar Peterson and Luke Milton.
Steve Cook
Cook, who owns the Fitness Culture Gym and the Fitness Culture app, joined the USA reboot version of The Biggest Loser during season 18. He shares one daughter with his wife, Morgan Rose Cook, whom he’s been married to since 2022.
Erica Lugo
Lugo joined in the 18th and final season of The Biggest Loser. Lugo has been married to Danny McGeady since December 2020. Lugo has a son from a past relationship while McGeady has a son and a daughter with an ex.
