After five successful life transforming seasons, NBC's The Biggest Loser is about to return on Tuesday, September 16 at 8pm for a brand new approach to weight loss, this time with family members. Featuring eight teams of two family members - four husband-and-wife teams and four parent-adult child teams - The Biggest Loser Families will focus on educating on recommended healthy alternatives, lifestyle changes, a comprehensive diet and exercise as the family members compete for an incentive of $250,000.

With The Biggest Loser Families about to hit the NBC scales, we found show host Alison Sweeney and Biggest Loser executive producer Mark Koops on the other end of a conference call as we got the scoop on the show's upcoming sixth season.

THE DEADBOLT: You said you get thousands and thousands of applicants. How do you whittle it down and decide who to choose?

MARK KOOPS: You know, we have a great casting team to narrow it down. But they say it’s the hardest day of the season when we sit in there with the finalists and have to pick the people who go on the show and unfortunately tell many others that it’s not - you know, they’re not going to be selected.

There’s a lot of criteria we base off but [we're] equally looking for a great mix of people and a great mix of story. And you know, as I say, it’s always heartbreaking to tell those who haven’t made it.

THE DEADBOLT: Is there a certain point where contestants don’t care about the money anymore?

ALISON SWEENEY: You know, it’s an interesting question. I think they always think of it with the motive of wanting to lose weight, wanting to get healthy, wanting to change your life. No one would - you can’t subject yourself to something over that period of time without having that goal in mind. But the money is a nice incentive, too, and I find that the reason the show works the way that it does is because I’m a super competitive person, if you know anything about me, and I get it.

I get why the idea of a challenge, the idea like - Mark brought up Neil from last - from Season 4. Neil and Bill Germanakos, who ended up winning the whole thing, he was out there at the gym at six in the morning. He would fall asleep there. I mean, they challenged each other and you don’t want to lose. You don’t want to go home. You want it. And obviously the money is a big part of that, but just the competition - the spirit of challenge. And I think that’s what they all embrace and they all use to help them lose the weight.

THE DEADBOLT: The father with the life-threatening health issues; Can you mention what some of those issues are?

MARK KOOPS: I mean, he literally had every issue surrounding obesity - you know, abnormal heart strain, he had to wear a sleep apnea machine. I mean literally was the first contestant who was unable to basically walk on day one. And I think the training of Jillian in particular with him and the work with the doctors is really going to provide a remarkable exclamation point and hopefully inspiration to many that it’s never too late to make a change, because it’s one of the most inspiring stories I’ve seen in six seasons.

Other Conference Call Highlights:

Alison Sweeney on what she's learned from the show that she's now doing with her husband and son:

"I’ve learned a lot from this show and I guess, you know, mostly it’s the idea of just staying active together, staying fit together. I’ve learned a lot more about nutrition than I had. I mean, I think living in LA you’re - you know, in Hollywood you kind of stay on your toes and are aware of what nutritional elements are important. But for us, just as a family like I said, I cook more. I find healthy ways to make meals - like the Biggest Loser actually has a great cookbook that I use all the time to make food for our family. And we’ve stayed home and you can do stuff together that’s fun and energetic. And we take our son out and fly kites and go out to the park. And I mean, it’s just little stuff like that that seems basic. But at the same time, it is part of what is a healthy dynamic and what keeps you, like Mark said, moving."

Mark Koops on what role Chef Rocco will play in Season 6:

"You know, as much as he is in Season 5, Rocco is back in Season 6 and I think that’s definitely one thing we’ve seen and where we pay attention to the fans and the message boards - is how do we build out the nutrition element of the show and, you know, sort of help people in that way. And I think this season Rocco comes back and definitely gives a lot of valuable information in terms of, again, providing just more insight both in the show and online of how to make better and healthier choices. And one of the things we’ve always heard is - 'We don’t have much money. How can we do it?' So he takes the contestants shopping on the average American weekly budget and prove you can live healthy and that you can eat healthily. So we’re really looking to address issues and topics that can relate to everybody."

Koops on whether a lot of procrastination about weight loss is a mental block:

"Oh absolutely. I mean, I think it’s definitely a mental - a problem for many. I think everybody has their own view of what’s healthy and we’re not - as Alison said - to expel a size. The people who come on Biggest Loser come because they are unhappy with where they’re at and where they are in their lives. But definitely I think Bob and Jillian - some of the most valuable work they do and [there are] so many terrific moments in this series where Jillian is really connecting with the children and the parents in particular... about where these issues stem from. And it is a mental thing. You know, for one, when her mom left she stayed with her dad and she blamed her mom for how sick she is, for her weight loss and hadn’t phoned her mom in six years."

Alison Sweeney on struggling with weight as a teenager:

"You go through puberty and like Mark was joking, you know, when you’re a little kid and you’re running around, and you kind of don’t think about it. You just don’t have any - you don’t have a problem. And then all of a sudden, for girls in particular, you hit a certain age and all of a sudden those ice cream treats or something, they stack up and you kind of lose sight of it.

"And it was hard for me. And I was on TV and it’s definitely been a struggle. And I, you know, battled that and learned - got the tools I needed to lose weight and tried every diet, you know, known to man to try to beat it. And finally found the healthy way, and definitely had the support and love of my family, and have found that healthy sort of way to live my life. And that’s what the show is all about, so I’m thrilled to be part of helping other people do that."