They are coming from Decatur, Benton Harbor, Niles, Cassopolis, Berrien Springs and, of course, Dowagiac.

Some have Type II diabetes already.

Several have hypertension or the high blood pressure which is aggravated by carrying an excess of body weight.

Some just want to lose a few of the excess pounds they put on over the holidays.

Others are morbidly overweight and determined to delay or avoid the loss of kidney function or the earlier heart attack which can result from too high a Body Mass Index (BMI).

They are all attending the Lifelong Weight Management seminars sponsored by Dynamic Health which started this week at the 410 Hill St. Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The first of the Sunday seminar series began at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 17.

Those people will come together each Sunday morning for 10 weeks to participate in two hours of PowerPoint presentation, small group interaction and a little exercise.

Personal goals are set and healthful life style practices are outlined.

The emphasis is to empower the individuals to achieve their body weight goals.

The Thursday evening series begins tonight, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. at the same location and will, like the Sunday series, continue for 10 weeks.

Ages of those attending varies from the older persons who are retired to the 14-year-old girl brought by her mother.

Educational attainments of those attending vary from those who have not yet completed high school to persons with graduate university degrees who are professionally employed.

Most of us recognize that overweight persons are now the majority in the United States.

And many of us who are overweight have learned to be comfortable with our condition.

If we do not yet experience those debilitating conditions or fatal diseases which result from our indulgences, then we put them out of mind and do not allow them to worry us.

But what a pity it is when we allow a comfortable present to lull us into a false security and rob us of the last 20 to 30 good years of life which we might have.

Many of the local places of business have accepted for distribution the brochures describing the Lifelong Weight Management program .

It has been featured as public service announcements on radio. Display newspaper advertising was placed in the Dowagiac Daily News and in the Niles Star.

Deals on Wheels managers are featuring it on their colorful digital display sign.

Churches have featured this program in their bulletins. One merchant offered to place a brochure in each outgoing bag of merchandise. One physician phoned us to secure brochures for his office. Another physician e-mailed some of her patients to recommend the program.

Response from the people of the communities has been very good. We can improve our personal level of vitality. We can reduce health care costs.

If you could benefit by this program, why not make the decision to do it. Just come tonight and get registered. Or call the toll-free 877-528-8155 number to get more information or to register a little late for the Sunday series. There are nine Sunday seminars yet to be.