Losing weight can seem intimidating, especially when you consider 1 in 3 American adults are obese and Ohio has an obesity rate of 33.8%. By committing to a healthier lifestyle, people can achieve weight loss and overall wellness.

Gloria Kershner of Lima, who attends the Bluffton TOPS group, has lost nearly 100 pounds through the non-profit TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a non–commercial weight loss, education and support organization.

Gloria says that she attributes her weight loss success to the support she receives from her fellow TOPS members, along with portion control and regular exercise.

Bluffton's TOPS meets on Tuesdays at St. John's United Church of Christ with weight-ins at 5:30 p.m. and meetings at 6:30 p.m. The Bluffton chapter is among 248 TOPS chapters in Ohio. In 2018, the total weight loss by Ohio chapters reached 18,625 pounds.

Obesity can cause an array of medical conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

TOPS is not a diet. It is a lifestyle change for a lifetime. TOPS has been fighting obesity since its founding in 1948. There are more than 100,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. In 2018, they lost a total of 270 tons of excess weight.