If Kim Evans and Claudette Johnson see less of each other in the future, they will only have themselves to blame.

The women from the Stratford neighborhood in Evans, along with neighbors Suzanne Texter, Lisa Bradley, and Mrs. Evans' husband, Mordecai, were among those who showed up Monday to kick off a community-wide weight loss competition. Activate CSRA Team Lean is a 12-week campaign being sponsored by the Family Y as part of its 150th anniversary celebration this year.

At the end of the 12 weeks, teams and individuals who lost the highest percentage of weight will win cash prizes. But the Y is hoping for a payoff for everyone, said board chairman Ed Enoch.

"I think the hope is to get folks kind of hooked here and make it a lifestyle instead of a 12-week thing," he said.

It is a particular concern in light of the rise of childhood obesity and related diseases like type 2 diabetes, said Doctors Hospital CEO Shayne George, one of the sponsors.

"We believe that lives can be saved by maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle," he said.

That was the concern of Sue Gregory of Evans as she stopped by to weigh in with son Dylan, 2.

As a mother of three young children, she wants to set a good example and is hoping to get her kids into after-school classes at the Y in addition to other activities.

"I do want to make it more of a focus in their lives so they are actually choosing their exercise," Mrs. Gregory said.

A little humor helps, too. The group from the Stratford neighborhood in Evans have dubbed themselves "Four Skinny Cows and a Bull."

To keep each other accountable, they are going to send e-mails to each other on what they are eating. And as motivation, they are planning to walk together.

"It helps because if you know someone is sitting outside waiting on you, you're less likely to stay in bed," Mrs. Johnson joked.