Over the years, fans of the series have had lots of questions about how the show really works, including if the contestants secretly get to use real toilets ( no ), if the producers control what they wear ( yes ), and if the contestants are ever alone ( not a chance. ).

One of the more persistent questions is about how long the contestants actually spend on the island.

In the American version of the show, contestants are on the show for a maximum of 39 days (with the exception of the Australian Outback season, which ran for 42 days).

On the international versions of the show, things can get a little hardcore. The most recent season of Survivor Australia lasted for 50 days , while last year's season of Survivor Greece went on for a whopping SIX MONTHS . However, the format of the show tends to change from country to country, with Greece's version involving a public vote by viewers , which explains the longer run time.

But even just 39 days as a castaway takes a massive toll on the body. With limited access to food, contestants lose quite a bit of weight over the course of a season. Tina Wesson, a three-time player and winner of Survivor: Australian Outback, lost 18 pounds during her time on Survivor: Blood vs. Water. Wesson spent 38 days in the game before she was voted out, finishing 4th:

Holly Hoffman, who finished 4th on Survivor: Nicaragua, told Business Insider she lost 22 pounds over the course of the season. She also said she was sick for a week when she got home. Hannah Shapiro, a runner-up on the 33rd season of Survivor and contributor to Men's Health , told Mic that her 39 days in Fiji left her over 20 pounds lighter with a new habit of brushing her teeth with bamboo.