A GROUP of about 70 locals took the first step to healthy lifestyle change this week with the first session of “Losers are Winners”, the Port Lincoln Healthy Weight Challenge.

Sue Shanley, Laura Masters, Alison Lear and Carolyn Boyce make up one of the teams formed to give the participants support throughout the challenge.

Ms Masters said she decided to take up the challenge for self development and personal improvement.

Ms Shanley said they all wanted to change their lifestyles and the team environment would give them the competitive edge to make it happen.

The teams will attend a session a week for 13 weeks, learning about exercise and injury prevention, healthy eating, body image, self esteem and keeping motivated.

At the end of the 13 weeks they will meet once a month until December when the overall winners will be judged.

Points will be awarded for waist measurement loss, body fat loss, weekly nutrition and exercise goals, and individual and team attendance at weekly sessions.

Extra points will be awarded to people seen around town in their orange “Losers are Winners” t-shirts.

Challenge coordinator Danielle Peters said it was not really about losing weight.

“It’s about making healthy lifestyle changes, if weight loss comes along with it that’s fantastic.”

Dr Ian Toogood gave the group some motivation by sharing some of the health implications of being overweight or obese.

He said it was a great sign to see participants taking the first step to reduce their risk.

“Every pound you lose is worthwhile and does you some benefit.”