Photos: Sheriff’s officials get serious about weight loss

Deborah Romera, center, embraces Mike del Real after her team won the Sheriff’s Department’s 10-week weight-loss competition in Monterey Park. Twenty members of the department participated.   (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Tadrous, left, Tom Anderson, Brenda Parker and Alexander Khasaempanth hold photos of themselves at Week 1 after competing in a 10-week weight-loss competition at the Sheriff’s Department headquarters in Monterey Park. “I love food,” said Tadrous, 37, “but I love life a little more.”   (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Los Angeles Times)

Sgt. Tom Anderson, right, stands with other Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and officials at the department headquarters in Monterey Park. They were about to begin a 10-week weight-loss competition.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Tadrous prepares a low-carb, small-portion lunch as part of the diet prescribed by Lindora, the company that sponsored the weight-loss competition. Tadrous’ goal: to shed 70 pounds.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Tadrous after he was weighed inside the Lindora Clinic in Downey. Over 70% of the contestants in the weight-loss competition, who included both sworn and civilian employees, had lost at least 20 pounds.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)