Light Weigh is a 12-week Bible study and instructional DVD series designed for small groups at churches or in homes.

“I used to be 100 pounds more than I am now,” said Fowler, based in Kansas City.

“Light Weigh is a program that teaches you to eat real food in moderation. What we pursue in the Light Weigh is called peace with food.”

Started in 1998, Light Weigh can be found all over the world — including Canada, said Fowler.

In Ajax, Ont., Susan Kennedy runs one of about 10 Light Weigh groups across the country through the God, Sex and the Meaning of Life Ministry. Operating out of the parish hall at St. Bernadette’s parish, Kennedy’s fourth Light Weigh session starts Jan. 10.

“Our participants really enjoy it,” said Kennedy. “It’s a whole different mindset. It gives you the freedom from food… You become almost like a slave to food on some of these diet programs.”

The cost for the Light Weigh series is $150, said Kennedy.

“I wish it didn’t cost so much, but it’s cheaper than Weight Watchers,” she said.

Light Weigh incorporates the strategy of portion control, she said.

“You’re allowed a certain amount… So you could end up eating four or five times a day,” she said.

“If you wanted to eat potato chips, you could eat them, but then you’d be hungry sooner… because you’d find that it doesn’t nourish you.”

The “peace with food” premise that Light Weigh advocates aims for a transformation of your interior along with your exterior.

“First you achieve peace with God,” said Fowler.

“Peace with God moves to peace with yourself and peace with yourself moves to peace with food.”

Sessions are 90 minutes long. Following the Bible study, participants watch the standard Light Weigh DVD, some of which includes a segment where participants learn about a saint of the week, an eating example and the Light Weigh topic of the week, said Fowler. For example, the first week’s topic of discussion is conforming your will to God’s.

Fowler said she also wrote the program because she wanted people to fall back in love with the Church.

“I felt God wanted people to know how much He did love them,” she said.

Light Weigh is a loving program, with no weigh-ins at the meetings, said Fowler.

But she recommends participants attend meetings instead of trying the program on their own.

“It is no small thing to overcome overeating. It really requires consistent effort. And so that’s why the group meeting is so important,” she said.

So many people feel hopeless about their eating and the Light Weigh program offers them hope, she said.

“I really thought I was a hopeless case… and I finally realized God has to have the answers,” said Fowler.