The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney will be returning to host the reality show's fourteenth season, which will feature 15 adult contestants and three teen participants and is set to premiere with a two-night event on Sunday, January 6 at 9PM ET/PT and Monday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT.

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Jillian Michaels will be joining returning trainers Bob Harper, whom she has worked alongside on every The Biggest Loser season she has participated in, and Dolvett Quince, who joined the show two seasons ago following her most recent departure.

In addition to the 15 fourteenth-season adult contestants, The Biggest Loser will also be attempting to tackle childhood obesity by featuring a group of teenagers 13-17 years of age for the first time in the show's history. Childhood obesity expert and pediatrician Dr. Joanna Dolgoff will assist the kids in getting healthy and achieving their personal goals.

During a recent conference call with reporters, Alison talked about the upcoming season of The Biggest Loser and what viewers can expect to see.

On a personal level given the impact and influence of The Biggest Loser how do you feel about the show taking on child obesity?

Alison Sweeney: Well I'm a mom and so I have, you know, obviously it's such an important issue for our country and to the world. And on a personal level, I see kids all the time who are struggling with obesity and I think it's so important to start talking about it, really figure out what we can do as a community and a society to heal our kids.

What were your impressions of [contestant Thomas "TC" Pool].

Alison Sweeney: He's such a sweetheart and such a nice guy and really was committed to make this change. And what I loved about meeting him right off the bat was what a fan he was.

I mean, he made it clear from the moment I met him how much it's meant to him to be part of The Biggest Loser. And he's a great example of like, you know, why you shouldn't give up.

He's made it clear he's auditioned a number of times to make it on the show and that he was not going to quit trying and I loved that. I loved his temerity and his persistence to keep going, and he turned that into energy in the gym too.

What is the dynamic like with the three trainers now that you've got Bob, Jillian and Dolvett, especially since Jillian has come back to the show and it'll be her first time training with Dolvett?

Alison Sweeney: It's been amazing. It's actually super awesome to watch the three of them interact, to watch it unfold. I think it's going to be a great part of the season, because I think like all the audience was sort of wondering that same question -- how are Jillian and Dolvett going to interact.

And it's been so interesting and cool to see all these different styles of trainer and to see how they see the contestants differently and to mostly just see the respect they have for each other and how they really acknowledge that like everybody has their own style. They kind of -- they really compliment each other in an amazing way.

I've heard a little scattered criticism about having kids on the show considering how intense it is. What kind of precautions are you guys putting in place to ensure that the kids get the most out of this experience without any due harm.

Alison Sweeney: It's certainly an interesting thing to criticize something that like they haven't even seen. So nobody... cares more about these kids than we do, and the first thing we did was take into consideration their age and how we can best help them and guide them.

So they aren't ever on the scale and they don't workout in The Biggest Loser gym and they don't live on the ranch. And they have their own journeys and obviously, you know, nevermind school -- we're really trying to help them learn how to care for themselves in their environment at home with their families, which is a huge task.

I mean it's not just as though these kids, these teenagers are sort of on an island. It's their community and their family who need to make these changes too. So we are really hoping to not only encourage their families to change their nutrition but their whole family, and get the whole family outside and exercising.

And again, I mean, I think the trainers have done an amazing job, you know, expecting these kids to change their fitness level but in a kid friendly way. So hopefully kids will watch the show and really be inspired for the things that they can do that are really relatable to their age range that challenge them and get them healthier without putting the same pressure on them that you can expect from an adult, right.

When you first signed on with The Biggest Loser what were your expectations and how long did you think that this gig would last?

Alison Sweeney: It's a good question. I was a fan of the show before they approached me to be a part of it. So I loved the idea of getting to host The Biggest Loser. I love what they do, I love the stand they're taking on -- we are taking on obesity.

And I really thought that the show had legs right from the beginning because it really touches your heart in a way just beyond even the issue of weight loss. It touches your heart in the belief that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and that no matter what your adversity is, no matter what your obstacle is in your life, if you really do the work it pays off.

And you can change and there's something so redeeming about that and inspiring about it that I just knew America would really continue to want to see those stories again and again.

And as someone who works on the show -- and I talk to the crew every day -- I mean, we fall in love with the contestants too, just like the fans do, and you talk about contestants from seasons past fondly and we are along for the ride every single time.

We love the new group that comes in and helping them and seeing them change. So I really expect, you know, another great season and for it to continue.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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