There’s nothing quite like the Survivor diet to shed a few kilos and this year’s 21 castaways didn’t disappoint, losing a combined 151kg. That’s an average of just over 7kg per castaway.
Here’s the list of the biggest losers from least to most:
21: Lee-Anne
Starting weight: 69kg
Finishing weight: 69kg
Weight loss: 0kg
Days on island: 3 days
As the first castaway voted off Survivor SA: Island of Secrets, Lee-Anne can be excused for not shedding any weight. After all, there wasn’t really a shortage of food after the first challenge.
20: Paul
Starting weight: 77kg
Finishing weight: 75kg
Weight loss: 2kg
Days on island: 5 days
With only 5 days in Samoa, Paul still managed to lose a couple of kilos. Make no mistake, the challenges are physically taxing and there’s plenty to do around camp in the first few days.
19: Felix
Starting weight: 105kg
Finishing weight: 103kg
Weight loss: 2kg
Days on island: 12 days
With almost 2 weeks of Survivor under his belt, we’re a little surprised that Felix didn’t drop more weight. He puts it down to staying hydrated…
18: Ting Ting
Starting weight: 65kg
Finishing weight: 62kg
Weight loss: 3kg
Days on island: 7 days
Ting Ting found herself on the wrong side of Jacques’ idol blunder after exactly a week on Survivor. Considering she started off a pretty low base, her 3kg loss seems about right.
17: Meryl
Starting weight: 60kg
Finishing weight: 57kg
Weight loss: 3kg
Days on island: 22 days
Someone else who started off a low base was our first jury member, Meryl. Despite being on the island for 22 days, Meryl limited her weight loss to 3kg.
16: Rose-Lee
Starting weight: 73kg
Finishing weight: 69kg
Weight loss: 4kg
Days on island: 9 days
Crime Scene Analyst, Rose-Lee, struggled to analyse the game of Survivor, being voted off after just 9 days. However, she was delighted to shed 4kg on her Survivor diet, putting her under 70kg.
15: Steffi
Starting weight: 71kg
Finishing weight: 67kg
Weight loss: 4kg
Days on island: 37 days
Perhaps one of the most dramatic blindsides of the season, Steffi had gained weight for Survivor. However, benefitting from food at reward challenges and visits to the Island of Secrets means she’s only dropped 4kg in her 37 days in the game.
14: Tania
Starting weight: 57kg
Finishing weight: 51kg
Weight loss: 6kg
Days on island: 14 days
We’re assuming Tania eventually found somewhere to poop as the diminutive “giant” managed a respectable 6kg loss in her 14 days in Samoa.
13: Seipei
Starting weight: 84kg
Finishing weight: 78kg
Weight loss: 6kg
Days on island: 26 days
Joining the 6kg club is tribe “mother” Seipei, who admitted she had eaten quite well during her Survivor experience.
12: Mmaba
Starting weight: 65kg
Finishing weight: 59kg
Weight loss: 6kg
Days on island: 32 days
The small lady with the big smile, Mmaba found herself sub-60kg after her 6kg loss, a number she hasn’t seen since she was a teenager.
11: Cobus
Starting weight: 78kg
Finishing weight: 71kg
Weight loss: 7kg
Days on island: 30 days
Fans will remember Cobus for his meme-worthy one-liners and, after 30 days in the game, he managed to shed 7kg.
10: Jacques
Starting weight: 60kg
Finishing weight: 53kg
Weight loss: 7kg
Days on island: 34 days
Superfan and Idol King, Jacques, lasted 34 days on Survivor SA: Island of Secrets. But an unfortunate blunder saw him join the jury 7kg lighter.
9: Rocco
Starting weight: 100
Finishing weight: 92
Weight loss: 8kg
Days on island: 17 days
Olympic athlete Rocco had to go back 10 years to when he was in grade 11 to remember the last time he tipped the scales in the early 90kgs.
8: Nathan
Starting weight: 80kg
Finishing weight: 72kg
Weight loss: 8kg
Days on island: 19 days
One of the original “Amigos”, Nathan found himself struggling with injury after injury until his tribe decided he had become a burden. He did, however, unburden 8kg during his time in the game.
7: Geoffrey
Starting weight: 73kg
Finishing weight: 65kg
Weight loss: 8kg
Days on island: 24 days
Possibly the most vocal member of the jury, Geoffrey was devastated when he was voted out but, having lost 8kg, was ready to dive into his first meal.
6: Laetitia
Starting weight: 76kg
Finishing weight: 68kg
Weight loss: 8kg
Days on island: 38 days
So close yet so far, Laetitia’s journey came to an end on day 38 and one tribal council short of making the final 3. She did, however, manage to shed 8 kg. No mean feat for Survivor SA: Island of Secret’s oldest castaway.
5: Dante
Starting weight: 81kg
Finishing weight: 70kg
Weight loss: 11kg
Days on island: 28 days
Into the Top 5 and “Aquaman” Dante is the first of our castaways to break the 10kg weight loss barrier.
4: Nicole
Starting weight: 78kg
Finishing weight: 65kg
Weight loss: 13kg
Days on island: 39 days
The first of our Final 3 castaways, Nicole admits to lying and manipulating her way through the game of Survivor, all the while shedding a very respectable 13kg.
3: Durao
Starting weight: 84kg
Finishing weight: 70kg
Weight loss: 14kg
Days on island: 39 days
Hungry man Durao may have gone through the game a little dazed and confused but clearly his hunger wasn’t feigned as he lost 14kg on his Survivor journey.
2: Mike
Starting weight: 103kg
Finishing weight: 88kg
Weight loss: 15kg
Days on island: 35 days
Perhaps one of the most dramatic-looking weight loss journeys belongs to radio host and all-around nice guy, Mike. Having shed 15kg in 35 days, Mike wasn’t sure he liked the new look and thinks he preferred being “fat”.
1: Rob
Starting weight: 94kg
Finishing weight: 78kg
Weight loss: 16kg
Days on island: 39 days
“The Robfather”, “King Rob” and “God” of Survivor SA: Island of Secrets is now also the weight loss king. Having played himself into a Final 3 spot with ruthless authority, Rob did it all while dropping a full 16kg in his 39 days on the island of Samoa.
*All weights have been rounded off to the nearest kg.