Wichita, Kansas. Oct. 17, 2007 – They’ve been mistaken for police recruits, and certainly bear a resemblance to a military boot camp – and that’s just the point. Edgar Smith, a certified public trainer and volunteer with the American Cancer Society, developed a boot-camp style exercise class, to help you lose weight.

"What I've done is taken the best of the military that I remember from boot camp and the best of everything I've learned over the last 16 years in the fitness industry combined it together and what we've come up with is this fitness boot camp,”  says Smith.

Smith says his class participants lose an average seven to fifteen pounds during the six week program. Many see a two to five percent reduction in body fat.

"I saw the results from my daughter and I was extremely impressed so that was my main influence.", says Clydette Baughman, a class participant.

But look and feeling better many not be the only benefit. According to the American Cancer Society, most Americans don’t realize that being overweight is a risk factor for many forms of cancer, including breast and colon cancer.

Smith says, "Two to three years ago there was a report that said Wichita was in the top 25 of the fattest cities of America. And I got to looking around and I'm in the fitness industry and I said I could do something that's going to inspire people to do something a little different – to get them to get out and work out."

The class is tailored to accommodate all fitness levels, so everyone can take advantage. So far, Smith says he’s been getting a tremendous response, and participants say they have too.

More information is available at http://www.fitnessbootcamp1.com