The Biggest Loser Fan Favorite Gets a Second Chance

By Kelly Turner on September 11th, 2009

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The new season of The Biggest Loser on NBC premieres September 15th and this time around, it is all about second chances.

If you’ve seen any of the ads for the 8th season, you’ve probably noticed a friendly face: Dan Wright, from season 7, back for more pain and punishment.

19-year-old Dan was the heaviest contestant on the show in its history, weighing in at a dangerously high 454 pounds. Dan is back for season 8 after not meeting his ultimate weight loss goal by the season 7 finale, which left him without The Biggest Loser title or the $100,000 at home prize, reserved as a consolation prize for the contestant that loses the most weight at home after being eliminated. (The winner of The Biggest Loser receives a $250,000 prize.)

The show is supposed to be a place to teach people lifelong habits to stay healthy and lose weight quickly. With the average pant size of our citizens, some feel Dan’s second chance is robbing someone else of their last chance to finally drop their weight – not that it is impossible to lose weight at home.

Dan had his chance to learn his habits on the ranch, and after losing 142 pounds total, it’s obvious he has taken them home with him and doing quite well. As the heaviest contestant ever, he has more weight to lose, which will of course take more time than the average contestant. But at 19-years-old, Dan was immediately a fan favorite that arguably got a bum deal with a partner that didn’t, ahem, pull his own weight.

And don’t forget the nice little chunk of prize money. Should he get two shots at that as well?

What do you think? Is this a second chance for a young man in danger, or an unfair, extended stay on the ranch and another shot at some dough?