Dec. 01--Twin brothers from the Chicago area are among the 16 cast members who will compete in the upcoming season of the weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser," NBC announced Tuesday.
Cicero high school teachers Roberto and Luis Hernandez, 36, will try to lose the most weight to win the show's $250,000 prize. Roberto, who lives in Burbank, joins the show weighing 348 pounds, while Luis weighs 308 pounds and lives in Chicago, according to NBC.
Roberto, a father of three boys, and Luis, a father of two boys, studied exercise science at Millikin University in Decatur and school administration at Governors State University in University Park, an NBC spokeswoman said.
There are a few changes to the upcoming 17th season of "The Biggest Loser." Longtime trainer Bob Harper takes over hosting duties from actress Alison Sweeney and a new "temptation" theme will place more emphasis on the contestants' ability to avoid temptations when they are not on "The Biggest Loser" campus, according to NBC.
Dolvett Quince and Jen Widerstrom, who grew up in Lisle, return as trainers. Cast members this season include first season "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch and "The Voice" season 2 contestant Erin Willett.
Some of the show's past winners have hailed from the Chicago area including Season 16 winner Toma Dobrosavljevic from Addison and Season 14 winner Danni Allen from Wheeling.
"The Biggest Loser" is scheduled to premiere its new season at 8 p.m. Jan. 4.
