D.C. Police Department Loses 1,100 Pounds

We've blogged several times about the success of weight loss competitions, especially in the work setting. They're engaging, fun, and they get results. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, a weight loss competition has encouraged the D.C. police department to lose a whopping 1,100 pounds.

We've all heard the tired jokes about police and their love affair with donuts, but the reality is that police officers face intense stress and hectic schedules that make a healthy lifestyle difficult. Even for support staff with desk jobs, the pressure can be intense--leading to skipped meals and nonexistent exercise.

D.C. police and support staff formed 200 teams with a total of almost 800 officers participating. And although the competition is officially over, many have made permanent lifestyle changes. "I'm not as stressed as I was before," one individual said. "When you're committed to a job, you yourself have to be healthy so that you can best serve everybody else. My blood pressure is down and it's like I'm a new person."

Congratulations to the D.C. police for all their hard work!