Returning home to Vicksburg Friday afternoon after three months at NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” ranch, Patrick House said he never hugged so many people in such a short period of time.

Of course, it’s a lot easier for friends and family to get their arms around House now that he has lost (we can’t say how many) pounds as a 2010-season contestant on the show.

House, 28, a native of Brandon who lives in the River City with his wife, Bradley, and two sons, ages 2 and 4, was chosen in May as one of 21 challengers who will compete for this year’s “The Biggest Loser” title — and $250,000.

Since much of the show is filmed far ahead of its broadcast date, House and his family have been sworn to secrecy about his progress.

At least 150 family and friends — many wearing “Congratulations Patrick, we are proud of our Biggest Loser” T-shirts, holding green and yellow balloons and waving fans with “before” pictures of House —went to City Front to meet and cheer for House, whose arrival by boat was staged by television production assistants and taped for airing in — well, later in the year.

House told the crowd he has made it all the way to the (censored) stage of the competition.

“It feels great,” he said about Friday’s enthusiastic reception. “Being in California, away from my family for three months, it’s been pretty tough. But coming back to this — I know it’s been worth it.”

At the ranch, House has worked with trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper. Now he returns home to continue the work in a second phase of competition.

“Being in the ranks — it’s been a lot of work,” House said, but flashed a broad smile. “Bob and Jillian get the most out of everybody, all day, every day. They push me to my limits.”

How much House weighed at the beginning of the process is also hush-hush, but the show’s website describes him as “a former college football player who continued to consume large quantities of food long after an injury forced him to stop playing.”

“He has lost a lot,” said family friend Tom Brooks, as House stepped off the boat and waved to the noisy, cheering crowd. “They’ve been very closed-mouth about it. They haven’t told us anything.”

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” said Nancy Bush, who has lived next door to House’s parents and has known House all his life. “For his health, it’s marvelous. He is a super guy with a super family.”

The theme for the 10th season of “The Biggest Loser” is Pay It Forward, with the goal of motivating communities to get healthier.

Mayor Paul Winfield, who attended House’s homecoming, spoke on camera about Vicksburg’s good points, but also its challenges, among them a high rate of obesity.

“We recognize that our city and our state have a tough fight ahead of us,” he said. House is a role model and inspiration to others in that fight, said the mayor. “We know he is going to be victorious.”

House’s competitors range in age from 22 to 58 and come from Alaska to Massachusetts, Minnesota to Mississippi. They include a math teacher, a stay-at-home mom and a life coach.

House was a sales representative for a food service firm, but was recently laid off.