Mayor Ford quits weight-loss challenge

Rob Ford and Doug Ford at one of the public weigh-ins.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford officially abandoned his weight-loss challenge Sunday, after launching the high-profile public endeavour, which included public weigh-ins, in January.

On the weekly radio show that he hosts with his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, the mayor told listeners he's not just quitting the program, he's quitting dieting, as well.

"I don't care about the weigh-ins," he said. "I'm not even dieting anymore. It's gone -- it's water under the bridge."

The "Cut the Waist Challenge" was launched by the brothers in an effort to encourage Torontonians to join them in shedding excess weight, as well as raise funds for charity.

Besides public weigh-ins for the Fords, the program also included a website that tracked their progress, as well as the funds raised.

The frequency of the weigh-ins, which at first occurred on a weekly basis, has dwindled in the past few weeks, with the mayor eventually stretching them to every other week and even cancelling the last two altogether.

The mayor initially aimed to lose 50 pounds from his 330-pound frame. At the last weigh-in on May 8, the mayor came in at 314 pounds, bringing his total weight loss to 16 pounds.

The mayor's brother, who has lost nearly 30 pounds, threatened on air to drag the mayor to the weekly weigh-ins.

The Cut the Waist Challenge was scheduled to end on June 18.