Type 2 diabetes runs in Arlo Christensen’s family. At risk and overweight, the 40-year-old decided to change his habits to avoid the same fate.

Christensen has lost nearly 60 pounds since last September. Now, instead of worrying about diabetes, cholesterol medication or high blood pressure, he thinks about his meal plan and gym schedule.

Revamping his diet helped. He signed up for Health Management Resources, a medically monitored weight-loss program, at Mercy Hospital in September. He attended weekly meetings and ate meals the program provided for about three months. He lost 33 pounds. During the six-month maintenance period, he lost 24 more. Now, he’s accountable only to himself. He said the program prepared him to make healthy choices on his own.

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