Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 28/02) - Lady Weight Watchers is in town to help residents of the capital shed a few pounds.

She'll even make sure they can do it while eating traditional foods.

People say Suzanne Cross has become a valuable asset to the community since her arrival last July.

Before moving north from B.C., Cross became a life-time member of the Weight Watchers organization.

"One of the stipulations to starting a Weight Watchers group is that there be a life-time member to help get it going," said Cross.

She was quickly convinced of the need to start a group in Iqaluit judging by the amount of enthusiasm from people who approached her.

"People were coming up to me on the street and asking me about the program," said Cross.

The best part of Weight Watchers coming to Iqaluit is that it's going to adapt to the Northern lifestyle, she said.

It's making country food part of its program.

"With the points system, it doesn't matter what you eat. Everything is assigned points based on the fibre, the calories and the fat," said Cross.

Weight Watchers is an international organization so there is research available for classifying all foods on the point system.

She said donuts, muskox and seal can all be worked into the diet.

Most country foods have already been assigned a point value but seal has proven to be a challenge.

"I have nothing to compare it to," said Cross.

A person's starting weight determines the point range they will follow.

If a person weighs 68 kilograms, they are allowed to eat food valued between 18 to 23 points.

Registration for Weight Watchers began Oct. 24 at the Wellness Centre.