
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 23, 1995                   TAG: 9506230027
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-12   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FOUNDER APPLIED AA PRINCIPLES TO KEEPING WEIGHT CONTROLLED

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) was started in 1948 in Milwaukee, Wis., by Esther Manz. After reading an article about Alcoholics Anonymous, Manz asked her family doctor what he thought about applying the AA approach of group support to people who are overweight. He encouraged the idea.

Manz got together three friends who decided to have regular meetings to help each other diet. The group they called TOPS is now a worldwide organization with more than 300,000 members.

TOPS is a nonprofit organization that does not accept advertising or sell, endorse or promote dietary products. Members believe that support, competition and recognition are the best incentives for people who want to lose weight.

The group is open to men, women and children, age 7 and older. Weight goals for each member must be prescribed by a physician. The group also stresses a sensible approach to weight control that includes proper nutrition and exercise.

Membership fees are $16 for the first two years and $14 annually thereafter. TOPS members who reach their goal weight and maintain it for 13 weeks graduate to KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly), an honor society that offers additional support to members who are trying to keep the weight off.

Locally, there are nine TOPS chapters in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Dublin, Radford, Pulaski, Wytheville and Floyd County. Betty Frazier is the coordinator for the Southwest Virginia division.

For information on local TOPS chapters, call Frazier at 731-3139, after 6 p.m.

For general information about TOPS, call (800) 932-8677.

by CNB