The Duluth police force is looking lean and mean as a group of officers have successfully completed their own weight loss challenge also known as the thinner blue line.

"Fitness is really important for police particularly for us because it is such a stressful environment we live in," says Sgt. Bob Sheen.

A group of officers came up with the idea of the challenge as many members of the department have picked up poor eating habits due to their busy schedules.

"We're so busy with the shift work and case loads that we have that it's very easy to get into the habit of picking up not so healthy stuff like fast foods and sodas. That sort of thing," says Sgt. Sheen.

The Duluth Family Practice Center also played a large role in the weight loss challenge by providing regular nutritional meetings and blood sugar and cholesterol testing.

Registered dietitian Patti Urbanski taught officers the importance of proper nutrition.

And once the four and a half month program came to an end she was amazed to find the officers lost a total of 542 pounds.

"They lost over 60 inches in waist circumference and waist circumference is a particular risk factor for the development of heart disease and they're average cholesterol dropped over 30 points," says Registered Dietitian Pattty Urbanski.

Officer Michelle Rafferty feels like a new woman now as she won the competition loosing 41 pounds and over 23-percent of her body fat.

"I can't say thank you enough for everything this whole process did for all us because we all walk around here like we're ten years younger. It feels good," says Officer Michelle Rafferty.

The Duluth Family Practice Center plans to follow-up with officers at the end of the year to see if they were able to maintain their healthier lifestyles.

As an extra incentive an anonymous donor offered a week timeshare in Mexico to the winner.

The Duluth Family Practice Center also has plans to publish their findings from the weight loss challenge in the future.