. >> for doug howard, the decision to lose weight came shortly after the scale readfield he weighed 280 pounds. >> -- readfield he weighed 280 pounds. >> i found out i was diabetic. >> all purges the pins were given information about healthy eating and exercise. -- all participants were given information about healthy eating and exercise. two-thirds were given access to a website where they could track their way. summer offered counseling sessions and others were given phone and group counseling. >> most people know what to do. the key is to sustain behavior. a lot of the counseling is focused on the behavior is necessary to sustain weightloss. >> many lost at least 5% of their body weight and kept off for two years. and phone counseling had the same results as group counseling. >> they have the ability to go to the same facility week after week. but it is much easier to schedule an appointment and do it over the phone and scheduled again for the following week. >> he was able to track its progress on line. all of this support motivated him to exercise six days a week and sent to an 1,8

. >> reporter: for doug howard, the decision to lose weight shortly after the scale revealed he weighed 280 pounds. >> i found out i was diabetic. >> reporter: he enrolled in a trial program at john's hopkins. some were offered telephone counsel eming sessions, while others had both phone and group counselling. >> most people know what to do, the key is sustaining behavior. a lot of the counselling was focused on the behaviors that are necessary to sustain weight loss. >> both the phone and group counselling participants lost at least 5% of their body weight and kept it off for two years. the doctors were most excited to learn phone counselling helps just as much as groups. because of its convenience, it has the potential to reach more people. >> it's difficult to go to a facility on a regular basis week after week, it's much easier to schedule an appointment, do it over the phone and schedule again for the following week. >> doug participated in both phone and group counselling sessions and weighed himself every day to track his progress online. he says all the support motivated him to

police arrested two men accused of a four-month long robbery spree. 27-year-old darrell doug and 32-year-old matthew howard will appear in court january 18th. the pair would identify potential victims and follow them home before robbing them at gunpoint. they robbed 20 people from oakland and fremont before they were caught. police say they targeted older asian victims who were wearing gold jewelry as they shopped. >>> a san jose mom is due in court accused of an unimaginable crime on christmas. the 24-year-old cortez initially faced several charges for tossing her 22-month-old son out of a second story window. now she'll face child abuse charges, not attempted murder. she barricaded herself and the boy in a bathroom, then dropped him out of a window before jumping herself. the toddler did survived and cortez suffered broken bones but she should be well enough to appear in court today. >>> downed power lines, narrow streets and dry conditions made battling a brush fire difficult for firefighters in the berkeley hills last night. this morning firefighters are still on the scene. christie smith is live with