The Biggest Loser franchise has mourned the deaths of some of the show's contestants over the years. NBC debuted the reality series in 2004, which 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 Biggest Loser became a cultural phenomenon and ran for 18 seasons. Despite being a ratings success, The Biggest Loser received criticism for allegedly pushing contestants to lose weight through intense exercise and calorie-restricted diets.