Iowa Public Television

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  Program: Assignment Iowa #108
  

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After a disappointing season wrestling at the University of Iowa, Belle Plaine’s Matt Hoover became depressed and let himself go. The depths of his depression triggered binge eating and drinking, resulting in rapid weight gain. By 2005, when he was cast on NBC's “The Biggest Loser 2” the former 190-pound athlete had ballooned to a staggering 339 pounds. During an emotional journey of self-discovery while on the show, Hoover realized that he was still a competitor at heart. At the show's final weigh-in Hoover had lost a total of 157 pounds. He walked away with the grand prize of $250,000, but more importantly, he walked away with a new life. Hoover shares his story.

• exercise
• fitness
• health
• Iowa
• obesity

Post Date: April 24, 2007