Hospital CEOs Put Weight Behind Losing Effort

The weight loss strategy the CEOs have adopted provides a sensible roadmap, rather than a silly or dangerous fad diet. It took decades for them—and us—to eat our way into this predicament, and the solution won't be found in a fad diet or a temporary exercise regimen.

Anyone who has dieted will attest to the difficulty of losing weight. It is even harder, however, to keep the weight off. Even worse, it is discouraging for many people who work hard to lose weight only to see it return after they stop dieting because they haven't made any other adjustments in their lives.

Peebles and Thoreen will both use the Blue Zones diet plan, which stresses smaller portions of healthier food, exercise, and other lifestyle choices.

We will continue to follow the contest as it wends along toward the June finish. Perhaps then Peebles and Thoreen will be willing to tell us how much they've lost and how much they've gained.