Siti Hawa Mohd Najib was among those who came with her family in tow for support.

The 31-year-old civil servant said she hoped to lose 30kg and become healthier, win the prize money and even snag a boyfriend.

“Guys value first impressions. I can still remember the look I got during my first and last attempt at a blind date.

“I’m often subjected to cruel jokes, and it’s very demotivating when I’m compared with my siblings,” she said.

Siti Hawa’s siblings had driven down from Ipoh, which is about two hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, with her,and even made a couple of posters to declare their support.

Her sister, Siti Haniza, 27, said: “It’s God’s fate that despite being the most active in sports compared with us, Siti Hawa is the biggest in size. With her sports training, she’s definitely mentally prepared for the challenges.”

Farrah Zennylyn Salihuddin, 19, hopes to improve her image to be able to break into the entertainment and media industry.

“I enjoy performing but I’m constantly judged by my looks. I’ve learnt that it’s easier to get what you want if you are slim and pretty.

“Singing onstage is when I feet most beautiful, and I idolise Britney Spears for her determination despite all that’s happened to her,” said Farrah.

The SEGi University College communications student said her weight had been fluctuating for the past six years, and that even her family and friends looked down on her.

“I dress up and project a confident look, but the constant teasings still break my heart,” she said.

“I’m all prepared for the show. I want to show that fat people also have the determination to get what they want!”

While the US$100,000 prize money is a huge appeal, Fitness First Malaysia managing director Shaun Maesday said the participants’ motivation for signing up was much deeper.

“The journey and transformation is the biggest draw. It offers a great opportunity in terms of improving the participants’ quality of life and how it would affect their lives,” he said.

Fitness First is a major sponsor of the The Biggest Loser Asia, modelled after the US version that is aired on Hallmark Channel.

“Fitness First’s concept is about making the world a fitter place and inspiring people to live healthy and active lifestyles.

“What better way to do this than to follow the journey of 30 people in The Biggest Loser Asia” Maesday said.

“The instructors will work the participants through the seven elements of Fitness First’s healthy lifestyle methodology – cardio, core strength, nutrition and meal planning, resistance training, flexibility and balance.

“The programme will feature a combination of personalised coaching and support for the participants off-camera. We will also incorporate different classes within the gym itself.”

Maesday revealed that Fitness First’s trainers would have to go through their own auditions to be the Asian version of The Biggest Loser’s well-known trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

“The two key trainers need to have great screen presence, be inspirational and have high qualifications. We will have more trainers assisting the participants off-screen,” he said.

Maesday said the participants’ transformation would be incredible over the 17 weeks of production period, as dramatic change is one of the key foundations of the show.

Meanwhile, in Manila, it’s been 10 years since Filipino businessman Kenneth Yue, 54, weighed himself. Last he checked, he was 345 pounds (156kg).

Although he’s always had trouble maintaining his weight, Yue said it wasn’t until after college that he began ballooning out of control. A restaurateur then, he said it was constant entertaining and partying—and complete neglect of his well-being—that sealed his weight problem.

“It’s a nightmare. When you buy clothes it’s so difficult (to find one that not only fits you but also looks decent). When you go out you have to consider so many things. I just wanted my life back,” Yue said.

Yue was among the 267 Filipino hopefuls who showed up for the live screen test audition of the first-ever The Biggest Loser Asia at the Fitness First, SM Megamall branch in Manila. Also among the hopefuls was Yue’s son, 27-year-old Kevin.

It was Kevin who convinced Yue to audition for the popular TV show.

Kevin, who said he has been overweight his entire life, weighed exactly 300 pounds (136kg) two years ago. Since then, he’s never bothered to check his weight again, although he believes he’s gained a lot more since.

“The producers are looking for resilience, determination and character from potential contestants. It’s one thing to be picked for the show and another to do the challenges. They must do what it takes to get results. It’s hard work,” said Fitness First country manager Mark Ellis.

The screen-test audition, which took more than 12 hours to wrap up, also had Asia’s biggest turnout so far, Ellis said. Not that the Philippines has the highest population of obese people in Asia, he said.

It might simply mean Filipinos are more confident in the English language and are comfortable about being in front of the camera.

Certainly one with no on-camera qualms is actor-comedian Ryan Yllana.

But despite his experience in show business, Yllana, who officially weighed 357 pounds (161kg) during the audition, felt nervous and even threatened by other bigger would-be contestants.

Among the first to arrive for the audition at 10am, Yllana found himself still in queue at almost 4 pm. “I have no idea what to say when I go up there. My goal is to really lose weight since I find it very hard to do that,” he said.

He’s tried them all, he said, but his weakness has always been his inability to stay on a regimen, whether it’s diet, exercise or both. With the cameras tailing the participants, Yllana believes the setup will motivate them to finally stay on an exercise and diet programme.

So does Stacey Whiteman, 22, who’s getting married May next year. Like most contenders, Whiteman has tried practically all sorts of diets, along with “diet” pills.

“There’s that pressure to keep it up when you’re in front of the camera. But whether I get in the show or not, I really need to lose weight and be healthy.

Besides, I want to be the blushing bride walking down the aisle in a sleeveless, backless wedding gown,” she said.

To the contenders, money is just a bonus, not the goal. “I just want to be able to live my life to the fullest,” said Alrik Cando, 25.

Cando, who quit weighing himself four years ago when the regular weighing scale could no longer measure his weight, considers burgers or pizzas his “dessert” after a hearty lunch.

When he was in high school, in fact, he could consume up to 25 cheeseburgers a day.

Allan Kalvin Leung, a Filipino-Chinese from Milan, Italy was initially in town for a vacation. Instead, he found himself also auditioning for the show.

After recently earning his degree in aeronautics, the 20-year-old aeronautics graduate has been teased by friends how the plane he’d be piloting might tilt forward because of his weight.

“It’s hard, especially in Milan where you only see very, very few overweight people. Italians are generally thin people.

Maybe that’s why we don’t have The Biggest Loser show there. I don’t even know the mechanics of the game. I just want to lose weight,” Leung said.

Produced by Imagine Omnimedia for Hallmark Channel, The Biggest Loser auditions and on-screen tests were held at four selected countries– Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Ellis said only 30 would be chosen to be a part of the Asian debut. Results was out on September 1.

Shooting and a diet-and-exercise programme will be from October to January next year.

“When the lucky contenders will learn how to exercise properly with the right food, they’ll see that it’s not as hard as it seems. There is such a great turnout for the Philippines that the producers are considering doing The Biggest Loser exclusive in the Philippines,” he said. (By Jade Chan in Kuala Lumpur & Anne Jambora in Manila/ Asia News Network)