BodyMedia Armbands Returning to NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' in January 2013

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BodyMedia's body monitoring technology is returning to NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' in Season 14 that premieres Sunday, January 6th at 9/8c, enabling contestants to help track their exertion levels, calorie burn and food intake using multi-sensor BodyMedia armbands and companion software. All 15 adult contestants, three child participants, and 40 family members at home will be supplied with the body monitoring system to use during the season and to keep afterward as they continue their weight loss journey. The BodyMedia armbands are furnished by BodyMedia, Inc. to NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Shine America for use on 'The Biggest Loser.'

The same BodyMedia technology, originally furnished under a different brand name, proved to be effective in helping former contestants like Season 11's Courtney Crozier track their effort and stay motivated. "My armband helped me lose weight before even stepping foot on the ranch, lose 120 additional pounds on the show, and keep the weight off after the show ended," Crozier said this month. "I still wear it today, and it helps me see that I take 15,000 to 20,000 steps and burn 3,500 to 4,000 calories on a daily basis. Along with my mind, it's my main tool to stay successful."

In the new season, featuring the return of trainer Jillian Michaels as well as the first kid participants in the show's history, the use of BodyMedia technology on the Ranch will expand significantly by enabling trainers Michaels, Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince to view contestants' body monitoring data through a BodyMedia professional software product released earlier this year. Uses will include:

• Continuous BodyMedia armband use by all contestants, who will be able to see their steps-taken totals, moderate and vigorous activity duration, and calorie burn in real time.
• Daily food logging and data upload to BodyMedia's online Activity Manager software, using computer stations in the house where contestants stay during the show.
• Access to each contestant's data by 'The Biggest Loser' trainers, medical staff and nutritionist, providing a new tool for evaluating contestants' progress. Data access will be available through BodyMedia's ProConnect software, which shares users' Activity Manager information with authorized professionals for monitoring clients' food and exercise regimens. The software will also allow remote monitoring of teenage participants during their periodic stays at home.

"Contestants have told us that wearing the armband helps keep them accountable. It's a great feedback mechanism that helps them see where they're succeeding or falling short in calorie expenditure, and use that information to do better the next day and the day after that," said Kerry O'Donnell, Director, Global Licensing, of NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group. "We do everything we can to help contestants lose weight, and this is another tool that helps our trainers monitor each contestant."

Designed for continuous wear on the upper arm, BodyMedia armbands capture over 5,000 physiological data points per minute with four built-in sensors that measure heat flux, skin temperature, motion and galvanic skin response. BodyMedia's proprietary algorithms convert these readings to calorie burn, physical activity duration, steps taken, and sleep duration and efficiency. The companion online Activity Manager stores that information, helps users to set goals and document daily food intake, and recommends activity and dietary adjustments based on each user's calorie expenditure and food intake to aid in weight control. The Bluetooth®-enabled version of the BodyMedia armband uploads collected data to smartphones to help users track their daily progress from the BodyMedia mobile app.

The BodyMedia body monitoring system is available at select retailers including Best Buy, Target, Costco.com, Amazon.com, NBCStore.com and at www.bodymedia.com/biggestloser.

About BodyMedia, Inc.
BodyMedia pioneered the development of wearable body monitors that collect physiological data for use in improving health, wellness and fitness. Founded in 1999, the company today provides a variety of around-the-clock on-body monitors utilizing proprietary technology. Data captured by BodyMedia devices is used by consumers as well as health and wellness professionals to guide behavioral changes to help control weight and promote an active lifestyle – two factors that are routinely cited as keys to combat and manage serious medical conditions. The BodyMedia  technology has been used in hundreds of clinical research studies covering health issues such as obesity, COPD, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, cancer, bariatrics, sleep and intensive care. BodyMedia is privately held and based in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit www.bodymedia.com.

About NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group
NBCUniversal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBCUniversal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special markets projects and the NBCUniversal Online Store. For the latest product updates and an overview of the properties managed by the group, visit the NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products portal at http://nbcuconsumerproducts.com.

About Shine America
Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content and through its global Shine 360˚ division, building brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including The Biggest Loser, Tabatha Takes Over and upcoming series The Face; adaptations of Shine Group formats MasterChef, Minute to Win It, One Born Every Minute and Parental Control; long-running scripted hits The Office, Ugly Betty, and The Tudors; and over 20 ground-breaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many of these produced in partnership with global brands such as Walmart, Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through Shine Group's distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries. Visit www.shineamerica.com for further information.

SOURCE BodyMedia