[Photos: © 2010 NBC Universal, Inc./Mitchell Haaseth]

When the next season of the Biggest Loser premieres on NBC this January 5, we’ll watch the heaviest group ever compete to win…and to change their lives. We thought Shay and Daniel were unique, but this season, we’ll have many people who outweigh them and have even bigger struggles ahead of them:

The new season players include Maria and Michael (Chicago, Illinois), an Italian mother-son duo who have always put others first while Michael’s weight soared to 526 lbs., identical twins James and John (Orlando, Florida), who together weigh close to half a ton, Tongan cousins Sam and Koli (Rohnert Park, California), who hope to inspire others in their culture like Sione and Filipe Fa did in season seven, and Cherita (Houston, Texas), a competitive mother who has already beat cancer and is ready to take on obesity along with her determined daughter, Vicky.

The new contestants competing for the $250,000 grand prize are:

BROTHERS:

James Crutchfield (Human resources director), 30, and his twin brother, John Crutchfield (Senior marketing manager), 30, Orlando, Florida.
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

SPOUSES:

Melissa Morgan (Attorney), 39, and her husband Lance Morgan (Rancher), 38, Aspermont, Texas
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

COUSINS:

Sam Poueu (Youth football coach and security guard), 24, and his cousin Koli Palu (Football coach and head of security), 29, Rohnert Park, California
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

PARENT AND ADULT CHILD TEAMS:

Patti Anderson (Business owner), 55, Lafayette, California, and her daughter Stephanie Anderson (Radio sales executive), 29, West Hollywood, California
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

Cherita Andrews (Homemaker), 50, and her daughter Vicky Andrews (Student), 22, Houston, Texas
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

Miggy Cancel (Chef), 48, Pemberton, New Jersey, and her daughter Migdalia Sebren (Homemaker), 28, Sanford, North Carolina
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

Cheryl George (Store owner), 50, and her son, Daris George (Salesman/deliveryman), 25, Ardmore, Oklahoma
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

O’Neal Hampton, Jr. (U.S. Postal Service station manager), 51, and his daughter, SunShine Hampton (Restaurant server), 24, Minneapolis, Minnesota
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

Darrell Hough (Press operator/mechanic), 46, and his daughter Andrea Hough (Executive assistant), 24, Ann Arbor, Michigan
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

Sherry Johnston (Non-profit administrator), 51, and her daughter Ashley Johnston (Manager/Esthetician), 27, Knoxville, Tennessee
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

Maria Ventrella (Corporate travel agent), 51, and her son Michael Ventrella (Deejay), 30, Chicago, Illinois
[NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth]

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