Fiscal Court members are weighing a hefty issue

ISSUE: Magistrate Weight Loss Challenge
OUR VIEW: Congratulations for leading by losing

The eight people who were winners in November’s general election hope to be losers come this November.

Patterned after “The Biggest Loser” television show, the Hardin County Magistrate Weight Loss Challenge is an 11-month effort to slim down.

Basically, it’s a fundraiser for the Hardin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, which will receive $5 for each pound shed. The event perhaps also could be seen as a bonding ritual for the eight members of Hardin Fiscal Court. But it’s most important function is a message about health issues weighing down many Kentuckians.

Magistrate Fred Clem Jr. described the contest as a means to promote healthy living and active lifestyles. Obesity is considered the second-leading cause of preventable death in America after smoking. It is blamed for as many as 300,000 deaths and $147 billion in health care costs each year.

Kentucky lags behind the rest of the nation in many respects, but on this subject Kentucky ranks as the fourth fattest state.

“The real winner is us, awareness and the Auxiliary,” Clem said.

In the big picture of local government, this challenge could be considered a small matter. But as an example to the community at large, it might be a lifesaver.

Hopefully, these public acts of self improvement will serve as an inspiration and fuel other weight-loss drives locally. Congratulations to the magistrates for being leaders as losers.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.