One of the most serious problems facing America, especially in Mississippi, is the growing amount of overweight adolescents and adults. The teachers and staff of Starkville High are taking an aggressive stance against this dilemma, and they have formed a weight loss group.

 The self-named Starkville’s Biggest Losers club is dedicated to helping their members lose, and keep off, weight.

The organization is headed by  assistant principal Debbie Thomas.

“Our goal is weight loss and being healthy.” Thomas said. “But being healthy isn’t always enough of a motivation. So, money will provide an extra incentive.”

The group has decided that each member will have to pay five dollars a month, from October through May. At the end of the school year, those members who have lost the most weight will be rewarded for their progress. With the more than 20 members they already have, the winnings will reach over $900.

“We will have three place winners,” Thomas said. “Third place will get $100. The person above them will get one third of what’s left, minus 25 dollars. 

Finally, first place will win the remaining two thirds of the pot, minus 75 dollars. If there is a tie, we will go down to the ounces lost if we have to. Should we still have an exact match; the winners will have to split the pot.”

School nurse Darinda Gruchy is acting as nutritionist for the group.

“I was a member of Weight Watchers before, so I can share things that I know do or do not work, from experience.” Gruchy said. “One big thing is the ‘zero-point soup’. It’s any kind of vegetable soup in chicken or beef broth, you can eat as much of that as you want. Having several meals of smaller portions can actually decrease hunger.”

Gruchy also suggests substituting turkey products for beef or pork, switching to whole-wheat bread, and including low-fat yogurt as a desert.

Other members have put forward ideas as to how to lose weight, such as a group mile walk/run, or a club-organized skipping of one meal, like lunch, for the entire week.

Webpage Design teacher Mia Eichelberger is also a member of the Biggest Losers. She hopes to develop a healthier lifestyle and gain a support system from the members. She likes the way they can come together and discuss each other’s problems. She cites the Bible as her inspiration for a healthy life.

“Build upon the foundation of the rock,” Eichelberger said. “We have to get our foundations in order so we can build off it, to the end goal of weight loss.”

Another member, main hall janitor Edward Deloach, has already lost over 14 pounds with the club.

“I got tired of feeling so bad about this weight,” Deloach said. “So I made up my mind to lose it, one way or another. I’ve already lost 14 pounds, and I feel so good. My goal is to lose 100 pounds.”

Deloach hopes his success motivates other people.

“If I can do it, then so can they,” Deloach said.