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Waikato DHB Lose It And Win
Waikato DHB Lose It And Win
-Waikato District Health Board awarded NZ Workplace of the Year at Weight Watchers Healthy Life Awards-
20 September 2012. Waikato District Health Board has been named NZ Workplace of the Year at last night’s Weight Watchers Healthy Life Awards after losing more than 3,300 kilos – the equivalent of 26 Richie McCaws!
After four cycles of the Weight Watchers’ At Work programme, which was introduced at the DHB just 12 months ago, the company has had 33 members reach their goal weight with more than 350 people taking part over all.
The team was recognised at a glittering gala event in Sydney last night, where the DHB faced off against Progressive Enterprises.
Waikato DHB representative, Mary Anne Gill, commented: “Working in the health care industry, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves on the front line. Our staff is one of our biggest communities and we need to care for them in the same way we care for our patients.
“We introduced the programme to encourage staff to practise what they preach. We started about a year ago with 12 members in the first series, which grew to 86, then 186 and a massive 265 in our most recent cycle. We’ve had to cap our fifth cycle at 50 members!”
Speaking at this year’s Awards, Weight Watchers Australasia Managing Director, Joseph Saad said:
“The achievements of the team at the Waikato DHB are absolutely outstanding! To have lost more than 3,000 kilos, and to be on the fifth cycle in just 12 months, shows just how powerful our At Work Programme can be. For the healthcare profession especially to be making a difference like this is inspirational.”
With almost 500 remarkable stories submitted from across Australia and New Zealand, entrants to the 2012 Healthy Life Awards have lost a staggering 10,347 kilos! To celebrate each kilogram lost by this year’s entrants, Weight Watchers is donating a total $10,347 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in Australia and New Zealand.
http://www.healthylifeawards.com.au
Notes to editors
Weight Watchers is Australasia's largest and most effective weight management support system, with one in three Australian women having taken part in the program since its introduction almost 50 years ago. Weight Watchers is a member of the Weight Management Council Australia and a signatory to the Weight
Management Code of Practice, providing a healthy and sustainable weight-loss approach with proven efficacy.
Recent recognition of Weight Watchers efficacy includes ranking #1 program for ‘Best Weight-Loss Diet’, ‘Easiest Diet to Follow’ and ‘Best Commercial Diet Plan’ in the 2012 ‘Best Diet’ ranking by US News & World Report. Medical journal recognition includes The Lancet, following a trial whereby overweight and obese adults referred to Weight Watchers by their GP lost more than twice as much weight as those who followed a standard care program run by their GP. Additionally, a trial published in the British Medical Journal found that overweight and obese adults referred to Weight Watchers achieved significantly greater weight loss one year after the trial than those in a control group.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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