Silver Melusine's post reminded me about a contest that was heavily (no pun intended) featured in our local paper. A hospital "chain" is sponsoring an approx. 10 wk weight loss contest. People weigh in at one of about four satelite sites. Two grand prize winners get $500.00 and the person who loses the most weight each week at each site gets $25. I'm not sure this is a good idea.

I'm sure they'll make people sign waivers, but everybody knows how iron-clad those aren't. I can see people blacking out while driving because they've been starving themselves and then filing a lawsuit. I wonder if someone could sue if they had a gallbladder attack, which can happen after rapid weight loss. Did I have to ask? I myself would be tempted to starve myself for the cash but the demographic that loses weight the fastest is extremely overweight men. I wonder if people will try to conceal weights on their person at the initial weigh-in. Hey, the contest doesn't start for another couple of weeks, so maybe I should stuff myself inbetween then and now to make for an even more dramatic weight loss. Wouldn't it be great to be pictured in the paper, as I'm sure the winners will be, and have them list your weight?  I think that people will do anything to win money so it should be fun to follow.