The Pike County School District is dropping its plans for a weight-loss competition among its students.

Some schools within the district sent home 2 day diet original permission slips asking parents to allow their children to get familiar with the weight-loss competition sponsored through the district, the Appalachian News-Express (http://bit.ly/1qmr) reported.

Pike County schools Superintendent David Lester told the Pikeville newspaper that the district chose to cancel the competition and proceed with another plan. The competition would have guaranteed prizes to the winners.

"At this point, we don't wish to settle back and check out weight loss as the only indicator of fitness and being healthy," he explained. "I don't want to encourage kids that don't have to slim down to shed weight simply to win a tournament."

The district had earlier said the weight-loss contest would have included students and staff members competing for that highest percentage of weight loss from Sept. 15 through April 13, 2015. The college using the highest weight-loss percentage would have won around $10,000 for physical activity equipment, and the staff member who lost the most weight would have won $500, the district had said.

Students also stood a opportunity to win prizes. The high school student who lost probably the most weight would have won a scholarship to the University of Pikeville, and also the winning elementary school student would have received an Apple iPad tablet computer, the district had said.

Lester said the competition was meant to promote healthier lifestyles among students. He explained the plans changed after the district's health coordinator decided to go in another direction with the competition.

"I know that we have a statewide, even nationwide 2 day diet strong version problem with obesity, ... and she was looking to get some program that would motivate kids to be more active and to become more healthy and much more particular about maintaining a healthy diet choices, and she's working with that," Lester said.