LYNDONVILLE — Sharon Walker of Lyndonville has been named the 2023 Vermont Queen by TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a nonprofit weight-loss support organization. Walker lost 38.4 pounds, earning her the top honor in the state.
Walker was recognized on May 4 at the Vermont recognition event held at the Barre Elks Lodge 1535. Her achievement comes as TOPS announces its top “royalty” for 2023, honoring members who have recorded the largest weight loss from their starting weight.
TOPS President Rick Danforth, who has maintained a 100-pound weight loss for 15 years, praised the members’ achievements. “Through their TOPS membership, these individuals can honor their life-altering successes,” Danforth said.
In 2023, TOPS members in Vermont lost a cumulative 697 pounds. The organization provides an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness through consistent group support, health education, and recognition.
TOPS offers both in-person and online weekly meetings, with membership starting at $49 per year in the U.S., plus nominal chapter fees. The organization, founded in 1948, currently has about 65,000 members across the United States and Canada.
Vermont has an adult obesity rate of 26.8%, underscoring the importance of weight management support in the state.
