ABC has ordered a fourth season of Extreme Weight Loss, their feel-good reality series. The network has ordered 13 episodes this time around, the show’s biggest season order to date. The first three seasons have had eight installments each.

Formerly known as Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, each episode takes a year to film. So, if ABC wanted another season for next summer, they were under the gun to make a decision soon.

Here are the details:

ABC’S HIT SERIES “EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS” IS PICKED UP FOR A FOURTH SEASON

The ABC Television Network has ordered 13 new two-hour episodes of the hit series “Extreme Weight Loss,” a unique, non-competitive show about weight loss that documents the unprecedented 365-day journeys of courageous, “super obese” people. Filming for the fourth season of “Extreme Weight Loss” is currently underway.

In addition to having participants continue to work alongside transformation specialist and trainer Chris Powell, the show is taking a unique approach to the upcoming season: each participant will spend the first 90 days of his or her weight loss journey at the renowned University of Colorado’s Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Aurora, CO.

Chris, with Anschutz Health and Wellness Center’s medical director, Dr. Holly Wyatt, M.D., will guide these individuals to safely lose up to half their body weight, ultimately revealing an amazing metamorphosis.

The Anschutz Health and Wellness Center offers some of the country’s most advanced research and science-based expertise, focusing on a comprehensive wellness approach that includes weight loss and management, fitness and nutrition services.

Season 3 of the reality show is airing currently on Tuesday nights (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. “Extreme Weight Loss” is produced by Eyeworks USA.

What do you think? Do you enjoy this show? Are you glad it’s returning? Do you think it works better as an hour or a two hour show?