TOPS honors Elmhurst man for weight loss success
TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, is unveiling its “royalty” for 2024.
TOPS royalty are women and men who have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their highest weight at TOPS by the end of 2024 and reached their goal weight, regardless of the time taken to reach their goal.
Cassandra Salvatore of Mansfield, who lost 88.8 pounds, and Richard Hails of Elmhurst, who dropped 57.4 pounds, are the 2024 Illinois Queen and King. They were honored April 11-12, 2025, at the Illinois recognition event at the Sheraton Lisle-Naperville in Lisle, IL.
With an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness, TOPS provides consistent group support, health education, and recognition to encourage successful weight management. Illinois has an adult obesity rate of 36%, and in 2024, TOPS members in Illinois lost a cumulative 11,147 pounds.
“All of us affiliated with TOPS are extremely proud of our members’ weight-loss accomplishments,” said Rick Danforth, TOPS President. “Through their TOPS membership, these individuals can commemorate their life-changing successes, other members, and those who have preceded them. By continuing their faithfulness to lifestyle alterations, a characteristic of TOPS’ successful formula, TOPS members employ the methods they’re offered and the support of their peers to achieve their weight loss objectives.”
In-person or online weekly meetings are the heart of TOPS support. In-person meetings start with an optional weigh-in, with members then sharing challenges, successes, or goals. A brief program covering a variety of health and wellness topics follows and may conclude with awards and recognition for the week. Visitors can attend their first TOPS in-person meeting free of charge and are encouraged to try more than one chapter since they’re all a little different.
For online membership, meetings are conducted via Zoom and are offered at least five times weekly. The meeting starts with members disclosing challenges, successes, or goals. Next, the online facilitator presents a prepared program that sometimes includes guest speakers sharing expert views on fitness, nutrition, and more. Meetings conclude with action steps related to the presented program. Membership is affordable, starting at USD 70 per year, plus nominal chapter fees. Join TOPS, visit www.tops.org, or call 800-932-8677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.
About TOPS
TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization. Founded in 1948, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind. TOPS promotes successful weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information.
Today, there are about 65,000 members, including men, women, and international members, who join chapter meetings online, with thousands of chapters in all 50 states and Canada. TOPS also has an online program for people who might prefer that model or who live too far away to attend in-person chapter meetings. Online resources include news and information from the health and inspirational community, meal planning ideas, workouts, chapter resources, and more.
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable, starting at $70 USD per year, plus nominal chapter fees. The longer you're a TOPS member, the more you save through reduced renewal rates. Visit www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677 to learn more about TOPS and to find a local chapter.