The Biggest Loser season 9

Contestants

The "Total Votes" column tracks how many elimination votes each contestant received. Some were sent home without any votes: as the last person on a couples team, for falling below the Red Line, or by losing an Elimination Challenge. Cherita and Victoria, the Blue Team, were both cut after losing a weigh-in against the Yellow Team for a chance to come back; Victoria later returned in Week 11 but was eliminated again three weeks after that. Melissa was first eliminated in Week 6 for being below the redline, then won a stair-stepping challenge to re-enter the game. O'Neal was not originally on either team; he joined the Blue Team after Miggy was eliminated.

Elimination voting history

Various conditions affected voting: immunity, being below the yellow or red line, losing a challenge, or being unable to vote due to a disadvantage. In week 4, Michael received a disadvantage from the challenge and could not vote. In week 5, O'Neal and Sunshine had the only vote, but John fell below the yellow line and was automatically eliminated. In week 6, Melissa fell below the red line and was eliminated automatically; Darrell and Cheryl's elimination was decided by an Olympic-styled challenge. In week 14, Koli won the right to the only vote through temptation. The finale's last eliminated contestant was determined by public voting, and the $250,000 winner was the finalist with the highest percentage of weight lost.

Episode summaries

Eleven teams of couples—siblings, cousins, spouses, or parent-child—were chosen, with twin brothers John and James (484 and 485 pounds) breaking the team record at a combined 969 pounds. Michael became the first contestant over 500 pounds (526) and remains the heaviest on the American version. Four contestants started over 400 pounds, tying the prior season's record. The initial weigh-in took place in contestants' hometowns.

At the ranch, each team had to complete 26.2 miles on stationary bikes; the Green team won immunity, while the Blue and Yellow teams finished last and were sent home, to return in 30 days with the team losing the greatest percentage of weight returning. Cherita was pulled off her bike due to severe cramps, and Michael was treated for exhaustion. At the first weigh-in, the Purple team won with 8.09% weight loss; Patti lost 23 pounds (9.4%), a female record, and Michael lost 34 pounds, a record for any contestant.

The Brown team finished last at 4.75%, forcing a vote between the twins. Each brother pleaded to be voted off himself; James was eliminated by majority vote.