Biggest Loser contestants have revealed that they were encouraged to take drugs in order to lose weight on the reality show and asked to lie about it.

After a controversial study found that contestants of The Biggest Loser tend to regain their lost weight due to permanent changes to their metabolism rate, hormone levels, and genetic predispositions, several former participants on the NBC show have come forward, claiming that they were given medication to drop the pounds.

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Lezlye Donahue claims the show used brutal tactics for extreme weight loss, such as providing illicit medication to contestants and sending them for questionable medical examinations by resident doctor, Rob Huizenga, also known as "Dr. H," who collaborated with Dr. Kevin Hall on the study.

"I read that study, and there's so much more that people don't know," Donahue told New York Magazine. There are nurses sitting there [filling people] with IV packs. I took away an eating disorder. I have nightmares about it."

Season 2 participant Suzanne Mendonca also backed up Donahue's claims. "People would take amphetamines, water pills, diuretics, and throw up in the bathroom," she told the New York Post. "They would take their spin bikes into the steam room to work up a sweat. I vomited every single day. Bob Harper tells people to throw up: 'Good,' he says. 'You'll lose more calories.' "

Another source revealed that Harper supplied contestants with stimulants like Adderall and energy pills containing Ephedra, which was banned by the FDA in 2004.

Joelle Gwynn, who was a part of the Biggest Loser: Couples season in 2008 said that an assistant working for Harper, who was previously a trainer on the reality show before turning host, gave her a brown bundled up paper bag with drugs.

"He says, 'Take this drug, it'll really help you.' It was yellow and black. I was like, 'What the f- -k is this?'" said Gwynn. "I felt jittery and hyper. I went and told the sports medicine guy. The next day, Dr. H gave us some lame explanation of why they got added to our regimen and that it was up to us to take them . . . People chastise Bill Cosby for allegedly offering meds to women, but it's acceptable to do to fat people to make them lose weight. I feel like we got raped, too."

In response to the allegations made by the former contestants, Harper's rep issued the following statement.

"These allegations are absolutely false and are in direct conflict with my lifelong devotion to health and fitness. Safety is paramount in my training regimen and, while demanding, my approach has always focused on the overall well-being of contestants as they lose significant weight and educate themselves, for the first time, on living a healthy lifestyle."

TagsThe Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser drugs, Biggest Loser contestants, Weight Loss, Biggest Loser weight loss, Lezlye Donahue, Suzanne Mendonca, Joelle Gwynn, Bob Harper