THis was such a great story
Police Take On New Role: Fat Busters
Updated: Monday, Jun. 16, 2003 - 5:50 AM EDT.

By ELIZABETH SIMPSON
The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk Police Department bike patrollers are used to cycling down crime on the streets of the city. This spring, they've also become fat-fighters.

Since February, police officers from the 2nd Precinct - some bike patrollers, along with regular officers - teamed up with 18 teen girls from Norview High School to lead them on weekly bike rides through nearby neighborhoods.

The girls chosen for the Health Habits class at Norview all wanted to shed some pounds, and weighed anywhere between 152 and 313 pounds when the course started.

"If it were up to me, I wouldn't have been exercising," said 15-year-old Melanie Boone. "But this has been wonderful."

Melanie has lost 37 pounds since the class began.

Week after week, the girls added distance and gusto to their rides, so that they could celebrate with an end-of-the-season ride from Norview High to Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital and back.

Police-car lights flashed and sirens wailed at intersections as the girls and officers on bikes were escorted through busy intersections like royalty. Two bike patrol officers from the 1st Precinct came along for the ride, since Lake Taylor is in their district.

"The attention is great," Melanie said. "It's so exciting."

The partnership between the school, the police and Lake Taylor hospital is just the kind of innovative approach that public health officials say is needed to combat the epidemic of out-of-shape children.

Nationally, there are nearly twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight adolescents as there were in 1980, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's led to an unprecedented emphasis on helping youngsters get fit.

The Norfolk police officers began working with Norview's physical education department chairwoman, Layne Dyer, six years ago when she asked them to head up a biking program. The officers - who patrol the Norview area - donated mountain bikes and taught the students about bike maintenance. The students rode the bikes around a track at Norview.

This year, Dyer wanted the youngsters to hit the streets to get the feel of riding through neighborhoods. So she asked the Michael Jordan Foundation to donate a fleet of 18 beach cruisers.

The foundation responded with a $2,500 grant. On a recent Wednesday, 15 sets of girls' knees pumped up and down as they pedaled the bright-blue cruisers. Their hair blew in the wind beneath helmets.

Melanie said she had been a little reluctant to join the class. She said her parents and other family members "were on me about losing weight." When she found out the class would require no running, she joined.

"I went from 298 to 261," Melanie said. "At first I'd get tired, but then you get more used to it. It gives you more energy all day."

Seventeen-year-old Sade Walke worried that the class would be "for big people." But once she got to know the other girls, and the officers, she was in for the whole ride. She lost 15 pounds over the course of the class. "I don't want it to end," she said.

Jessica Van Wart, who lost 20 pounds, said she appreciated the police officers' help. "I think it's cool that they are taking the time to do this for us," the 16-year-old said. "They didn't have to."

The officers liked the weekly rides as well, and plan to continue them with next year's class. Officer Roger Whitley said he enjoyed getting to know the youngsters, and hopes the fitness tips will stay with them. "It's something they can do the rest of their lives," Whitley said.

The girls pronounced the 25-minute ride to the hospital a breeze. Lake Taylor served them grilled chicken sandwiches and fresh fruit before the girls cycled back to Norview.

Melanie said the bike rides are not just good for her health and waistline, but for her self-confidence, too.

"When you're overweight, sometimes it's like you don't feel as good about yourself," Melanie said. "When you lose some weight, it's like, `Oh my goodness, I have a shape, I look good in clothes!"'

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The Virginian-Pilot is published in Norfolk.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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