Just think of all the pounds that people who have taken part in Memorial Hospital’s Team Lean weight-losing competition have lost and will lose.

It’s the third year the program has been offered to the public, after the pilot program at Memorial proved how effective peer pressure (and encouragement) could be for people who want to lose weight.

There a lot of reasons to lose weight: to be more attractive, feel good about oneself, have more energy and promote general health and well-being. But perhaps the most important reason for losing weight is to live a longer life. Who doesn’t want to spend more time with their family and friends, children and grandchildren? More time playing, worshipping, learning and working toward a better future?

Obesity is associated with a number of diseases, including heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, cancer and osteoarthritis. In addition to Black History Month, February is also American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

So go ahead, make a few easy resolutions: walk more, quit or cut back on smoking and drinking, learn how to do CPR, schedule that yearly checkup. It just might save someone’s life.