One Big Happy Family: Cool or Not?

A new reality TV show airs tonight on TLC called One Big Happy Family. It sounds like a sweet little show, right? But the title is actually a play on words. Each of the four members of the happy Cole family weighs more than 300 pounds. This six-episode documentary reveals the challenges of being morbidly obese, as well as the family's attempts to lose weight on their own. The show's creator, Mike Duffy, compares One Big Happy Family to Little People, Big World. He says, "Little People, Big World is about little people living in a big world. This [show] is about big people living in a little world — fat people living in a skinny world." Watch the video clip for a taste of the show.

The family agreed to be taped, and the creators reassure us that the show isn't exploitative, but how do you feel about broadcasting the lives of people who are overweight? Do you think this show will inspire other obese people to lose weight, or is TLC capitalizing on obesity and degrading those with weight issues?