Heavy campaigning
In Weymouth, police and firefighters lead town drive to shed pounds
Weymouth firefighter Mike Crowley walked into a local gym for his first hip-hop exercise class, rubbed his round belly, waved to the camera crew, and spotted the competition. Three burly Weymouth police officers stared back at him, confident in their matching navy blue T-shirts emblazoned with the message: ''Cops are gonna HOSE the firemen!"
Five minutes later, the hefty rivals were red-faced and sweating, trying to shed pounds doing the ''crip walk" and ''booty shakes."
Stakes are high in the Weymouth Weight Loss Challenge, a reality television series that pits police officers against firefighters in a battle to see who can drop pounds the quickest.
The show, scheduled to premier next month on a local cable station, is part of a larger campaign to inspire residents to make Weymouth a healthier place. The reality series comes at a time when a growing number of studies depict suburbia as a haven for bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. Local health officials are worried that unless they take bolder steps to trim expanding waistlines, their community -- like many others -- is destined for chronic health problems.
''We need to find new ways to get our town healthy because the old ways aren't working. People are too busy, too stressed," said Karen Curreri, a nurse and chairwoman of the Weymouth Health Advisory Committee. ''We're teaching our kids bad habits and I'm just as guilty as the next mom."
Last year, a local survey revealed that Weymouth adults are more likely to be overweight and have high cholesterol compared with other residents in the state and across the country. Obesity rates among children were so significant (15 percent of boys, 20 percent of girls) that health officials are planning to launch another weight loss challenge this year, pitting students against teachers.
Yesterday, about 50 residents watched the first weigh-in and fitness competition between the police and fire departments since the challenge began in August. The police officers proved slimmer and fitter than their counterparts, even winning the firemen's run, a race in which the contestants had to run up stairs in full firefighter gear.
''It's only the halfway point and we're still motivated to beat them in the end," said Fire Chief Bob Leary, who has lost four pounds and now weighs in at 223.
So far, the competition has been affable, but the teams have tried dirty tricks. First, the police department sent a tray of tempting pastries over to the local firehouse. In return, Leary e-mailed Police Chief Jim Thomas a photograph of a
Health officials are quick to note that the weight-loss competition is not just about shedding pounds or trading barbs. They have paired up the 24 contestants with a local nutritionist and given free passes to a nearby gym to help them change their lifestyles.
During a taped ''confessional" against a bright red backdrop, firefighter Dan Chouinard said he wanted to participate to show residents that real people who work 50 hours a week and have children at home can change.
The health committee is hoping that residents will be motivated to change their own habits by the sight of firefighters and police officers struggling with their weight. The group plans to start walking clubs and urge local restaurants to adopt healthful menu options to make it easier for residents and provide as much local support as possible.
Thomas, who began the challenge at ''a robust 191 pounds," said he has begun taking water aerobics and kick boxing classes. He is trading favorite foods like pizza and ice cream for dried apricots and almonds. He has even learned how to leave leftovers on his plate. ''There are definitely some other heavy hitters in this department that could use a program and some discipline," said Thomas, who refused to step on a scale until yesterday's weigh in.
The players are not always able to stick to the healthier lifestyle. Before the hip-hop class, Crowley admitted that he had just polished off three pork chops at dinner. Four other firefighters who promised to attend the exercise class all canceled at the last minute.
A few weeks ago, nutritionist Debra Wein made a surprise raid with the television crew during dinner at a Weymouth fire station and scolded firefighters for such fatty foods as mayonnaise and cheese ravioli she found in their kitchen.
Firefighter Chuck Struzzieri shoved his hands in his pockets, looked down, and mumbled, ''The regular cook just got transferred. Usually, we do a little better."
As the cameras rolled, Wein pointed out that creamy salad dressings pack on the pounds and the garlic bread they were about to eat had 18 grams of fat.
''I just want to make sure your arteries don't get too clogged," she said, smiling.
Across the country, other cities and towns are using fitness competitions and weight-loss contests to inspire healthier lifestyles. Earlier this year, firefighters in South Milwaukee put four diets to the test in a weight loss challenge that was chronicled by a local television station.
On Tuesday, NBC will premiere ''The Biggest Loser," a reality television show in which overweight contestants attempt to shed pounds while faced with real-life temptations. The Biggest Loser walks away with $250,000.
In Weymouth, the monetary prize has not been finalized, but police and fire officials say the competition is more about pride, anyway.
For Crowley, who has dropped eight pounds and now weighs in at 214, fighting the fat has not been easy.
At the hip-hop class, he had trouble getting in step with the music. When the instructor, Pia Lalli, ordered the men to get down and do stomach crunches, Crowley looked at the policemen writhing on the floor, and huffed into the camera, ''I'm not giving CPR to those cops over there."
Jenn Abelson can be reached at abelson@globe.com.
