Chicago woman loses 181 lbs., named 2025 Illinois TOPS Queen
International weight-loss organization announces leading “Losers” from 2025
TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, is unveiling its “royalty” from 2025.
TOPS royalty are women and men who have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their highest weight at TOPS by the end of 2025 and reached their goal weight, regardless of the time taken to achieve their goal.
Lyda Jackson of Chicago, who lost 181 pounds, is the 2025 Illinois Queen. She was honored at Illinois recognition events on April 10-11 at the Hilton Rosemont Chicago O'Hare in Rosemont and April 16-18 at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham.
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 34.2%, and in 2025, TOPS members in Illinois lost a cumulative 8,791 pounds.
“All of us in TOPS are immensely proud of our members’ weight-loss achievements,” said TOPS President Rick Danforth. “Through their TOPS membership, these individuals can honor their life-altering successes, other members, and those who have preceded them. By maintaining their allegiance to lifestyle modifications, a hallmark of TOPS’ winning formula, TOPS members apply the tools they’re provided and the backing of their peers to attain their weight loss goals.”
In-person or online weekly meetings are the heart of TOPS support. In-person meetings start with an optional weigh-in, after which members share 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, virtual chapter meetings are held via Zoom and 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 $70 per year, plus nominal chapter fees. Join TOPS, visit 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 in person or online, with thousands of chapters in all 50 states and across Canada. TOPS’ online program is for people who might prefer that model or who live too far 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.