MILWAUKEE, WI - Recent findings from what is believed to be the largest study of a weight-loss program in the United States indicate that TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, is associated with clinically significant weight loss among participants who remain in the program for at least one year.

According to a study published in Obesity, the official journal of The Obesity Society, TOPS participants who renewed their annual membership consecutively over a period of one to three years lost between 5.9% and 7.1% of their initial weight.  People who remained in the program lost 6% of initial weight in the first year and maintained that weight loss for up to three years. 

The Institute of Medicine defines successful long-term weight loss as "losing at least 5% of body weight...by the completion of a weight-loss program... and keeping it [off]...for at least one year."  The average weight loss estimated in this study exceeds these criteria for successful long-term weight loss which have been associated with improved health benefits, including decreased likelihood of developing heart disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and the reduction of sleep apnea symptoms.

Study authors Nia S. Mitchell, L. Miriam Dickinson, Allison Kempe, and Adam G. Tsai, all of the University of Colorado Denver, examined data from nearly 43,000 TOPS members who joined between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, and who had at least one membership renewal between 2006 and 2008.  Members were weighed at weekly meetings by the chapter weight recorder and subsequently submitted to TOPS' national headquarters by local Field Staff.  In addition to regular group meetings designed to reinforce healthy habits, such as setting reasonable goals, increasing physical activity, portion control, and food journaling ? major components of TOPS' weight-loss philosophy, the TOPS program includes a six-week "quick-start" guide, My Day One, and TOPS' lifestyle guide, The Choice Is Mine. Membership also includes a one-year subscription to TOPS News, the organization's members-only magazine.

The researchers noted the substantial difference in cost between TOPS and commercial weight-loss programs, like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.  A nonprofit organization, TOPS' annual membership fee is $26 in the United States and $30 in Canada, plus nominal chapter fees (on average, $5 per month) collected for local chapter expenses.  There are no special foods to purchase.

TOPS chapters are also led by volunteer leaders who are elected by their peers.  The study authors speculate that the lower dropout rate in TOPS could be due to the camaraderie, support, and recognition that develops from regular chapter meetings because participants may hold offices in the chapter.

"We are pleased that the findings of this landmark study further confirm that members of TOPS can experience measurable and lasting weight-loss success," said Barbara Cady, TOPS President.  "TOPS has been shown to be as successful as commercial groups and plans that have been scientifically studied and evaluated in recent years.  These include the 2005 JAMA study of the Ornish, Zone, Weight Watchers, and Atkins diets.  TOPS is affordable and nationally available, with more than 7,000 chapters located across the country.  Our focus on wellness education and healthy lifestyle choices has led TOPS members to lose a combined total of 431 tons of weight in 2009.  By joining TOPS, anyone can experience even the smallest (or largest) of health benefits as they take steps on the journey of weight loss."

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss support and wellness education organization, was established more than 62 years ago to champion weight-loss support and success.  Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness information, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has about 170,000 members in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

DES MOINES - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that HUD will provide over $17.3 million to help struggling homeowners in Iowa through its Emergency Homeowners Loan Program (EHLP).  The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law by President Obama in July, authorizes HUD to administer a $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, to provide assistance - for up to 24 months -- to homeowners who have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition and are at-risk of foreclosure.  HUD will assist borrowers in 32 states and Puerto Rico not otherwise funded by Treasury's Hardest Hit Housing Fund program, based on the state's relative share of unemployed homeowners.  It is HUD's intention for the program to begin taking applications from eligible homeowners by the end of the year.

"The Emergency Homeowner Loan Program will provide limited and targeted assistance to help working families get back on their feet and keep their home while they look for work," said Donovan.  "In crafting this new loan program, HUD built on the lessons learned from Treasury's Hardest Hit initiative to design and implement a program to assist struggling unemployed homeowners avoid preventable foreclosures.  Together these two initiatives represent a combined $8.6 billion investment to help struggling borrowers and in doing so further contribute to the Obama Administration's efforts to stabilize housing markets and communities across the country."

Who Will Be Helped

The program will complement existing Administration efforts to assist struggling homeowners - including the Home Affordable Modification and Hardest Hit Fund initiative administered by the U.S. Treasury Department.  Under the EHLP:

1)      the borrower must be at least three months delinquent in their payments and have a reasonable likelihood of being able to resume repayment of their mortgage payments and related housing expenses within two years;

2)      the property must be the principle residence of the borrower, and eligible borrowers may not own a second home;

3)      the borrower must have suffered at least a 15 percent reduction in income and have been able to afford their mortgage payments prior to the event that triggered the loss income.

How They Will Be Helped

The HUD Emergency Homeowners Loan Program will offer a forgivable, deferred payment "bridge loan" (zero percent interest, non-recourse, subordinate loans) for up to $50,000 to assist eligible borrowers with their mortgage arrearages and payments on their mortgage principal, interest, mortgage insurance premiums, taxes and hazard insurance for up to 24 months.

There will be a dual delivery approach for program administration.  The first approach will delegate some of the program's administrative functions to a designated third party.  The second approach will enable state housing finance agencies (HFAs) that operate substantially similar programs to engage in relief efforts on behalf of residents of their state:

o   Delegated approach:  HUD will delegate key program administration functions to NeighborWorks® America - an experienced and highly regarded national network of affiliated housing counseling agencies.  Under the program, nonprofit housing counselors who are part of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program administered by NeighborWorks® America will coordinate intake counseling, document preparation and outreach functions.  HUD will also use its delegation authority to contract with an experienced entity to provide loan servicing and fiscal control functions such as collecting payments from homeowners, distributing payments to servicers, and managing loan balances.

o   Substantially similar state law approach:  State HFAs that operate loan assistance programs that are determined by HUD to be substantially similar to the EHLP will receive allocations to fund emergency loans for borrowers in their states as well as payments to cover the administrative costs of performing the intake and housing counseling and fiscal agent functions (described above) directly or indirectly through subcontracts with third parties.

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and  transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

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Team Places Fifth out of 54

FORT BENNING, GA., (10/04/2010)(readMedia)-- Twelve Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard travelled to Fort Benning, Ga. with the goal of winning a title in their weight class at the All-Army Combatives Tournament Oct. 1 to 3.

There were 462 Active Duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers and 54 teams competing to prove they are the Army's best at hand-to-hand combat. Overall, the Illinois Army National Guard team placed fifth out of 57 teams nationwide. The three-day competition tested Soldier's skills in close-quarters combat.

On Oct. 3, Sgt. Aoutneil Magny of Dalton, with the 708th Medical Company based in North Riverside won third place in the middleweight class title after a three-day battle on the mats.

Magny won his final fight in the third round by bringing his opponent into submission. The North Riverside Soldier has been training since he was 13 years old when he started wrestling. When Magny was 18, he expanded his fighting skills by adding kick boxing. Now, Magny trains under Torres Martial Arts Academy in Hammond, Ind.

"I was really excited walking into the ring," said Magny before his final fight. "I was even more excited once I won. I really can't wait to teach other Soldiers combatives and show them it does work."

Second Lt. Ivan Iotchkolovsky of River Grove with A Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, took fourth place in the heavyweight division. Three other Soldiers also placed in their weight class; Sgt. Adam Therriault of Aurora, with A Company, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Marseilles Training Center, placed eighth in Welter weight class, Staff Sgt. Nicolas Grant of Caseyville, with the 129th Regional Training Institute in Springfield, finished 12th in middleweight class and Maj. Jeffary Jiannoni of Petersburg, with the Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield placed 12th for cruiserweight class.

Fighters competed individually in brackets based on weight class while team points were awarded based on individual placement. The tournament was a modified double elimination and consisted of three rounds. The first round was standard rules, strictly ground fighting. The second round was intermediate rules which allowed open hand strikes to the head, punches to the body, knee strikes and kicks. The finals were advanced rules that allowed full contact; ground fighting, punches, kicks and knee strikes.