Companies competing for wellness
More companies are focusing on one of the major needs of their employees: wellness.
And tackling big goals, such as losing weight, can be more fun with a group.
Those two reasons are why Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center in South Strabane Township, part of the Washington Health System, is hosting a corporate “Biggest Winner” contest.
The Biggest Winner, which kicks off Jan. 4, is a four-week competition in which seven teams from five Washington County businesses vie to lose the most weight and earn the Biggest Winner title.
Companies participating in Biggest Winner are the Observer-Reporter, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Washington Auto Mall, Washington Hospital and the wellness center. The O-R and the hospital each have two teams in the contest.
The competition is a take-off on the wildly successful “Biggest Loser” reality television show.
The wellness center has hosted individual Biggest Winner competitions for the past five years, but 2016 will be the first time that corporate teams battle for the title.
Research shows that organized weight loss groups have a higher rate of success than individuals attempting to lose weight, and Louise Schultz, corporate wellness manager at the wellness center, said the Biggest Winner teams promote camaraderie and healthy competition.
“We thought this program could be a great way to start creating a culture of wellness within the companies and possibly expanding or starting employee wellness programs,” Schultz said. “While this program is more focused on the physical aspect of wellness, it will show that companies have a valued interest in the well-being of their employees.”
The center will provide the resources (certified personal trainers, registered dieticians and free, unlimited access to the wellness center, including the swimming pool, exercise classes and track) required to maximize contestants’ ability to reach their weight-loss goals.
Teams will meet three times a week with a certified personal trainer who will guide them through hourlong workouts (four of the wellness center’s trainers, Jackson Momplaisir, Thomas Marasco, Joe Cavaretta and Kenny Rosenbauer, will coach the teams).
The workout sessions will vary and can include interval training, TRX workouts and kettlebell exercises, in addition to other activities.
Cameron’s registered dieticians, Emily Lugg and Kari Halloran, will create a one-month meal plan for each participant.
“While the focus of this program is physical activity, we’ve added the nutrition piece because so many individuals struggle with it,” said Schultz.
At the first team meeting, each participant will be assessed for weight, body measurements and blood pressure.
There will be a weekly weigh-in.
Bryan Braunlich, sales and marketing manager for the wellness center, said the success of previous Biggest Winner competitions at the wellness center reinforces his belief that people enjoy more weight loss success when they’re not going it alone.
“What we’ve seen in the past is that once people see results from participating in the “Biggest Winner,” it sets them on the path to better fitness,” Braunlich said. “What you learn from these programs and from these trainers is valuable because they provide you with the tools for how to begin, and they build motivation.”
The winning team will be determined based on the greatest combined total body percentage weight lost over the length of the program.
Sean Sullivan, vice president and general manager of The Meadows, said the company has always aimed to make employee health and fitness a priority and promotes wellness throughout the year with programs including smoking cessation and yoga classes.
“From the minute we heard about the competition, we were interested. Number one, we love to win and our goal is to win this. But we realize that helping our employees feel better helps them be more productive at work. The more healthy your employees are, the more energetic and productive they are,” said Sullivan, who is participating in the contest. “Their overall quality of life is critically important for them and their families, but also for our guests who visit The Meadows. It’s not just about dropping the pounds. I don’t think this is just a weight-loss race. It’s a land mine out there today when it comes to eating right and eating healthy. I think we’ll have some conversations on diet as well as exercise, and hopefully make positive permanent changes about eating right and being healthy.”
The overall winner will earn a one-year membership to the wellness center.
Members of the winning team will get a one-month pass to Cameron, and 50 passes to distribute among fellow company employees.
Dana Phillips, human resources director for Washington Auto Mall, said the wellness center competition complements the company’s wellness program.
“We’re trying to promote a healthier lifestyle here at the dealership,” said Phillips, noting that it’s a win-win situation if Washington Auto Mall increases employee fitness and reduces health insurance costs.
Observer-Reporter publisher Tom Northrop said the company is committed to promoting corporate wellness and making healthy lifestyle choices.
The O-R’s marketing director, Carole DeAngelo, believes the Biggest Winner contest is one way to fulfill the company’s 2016 goal to offer contests and regional events to promote good health.
“We want to bring our communities together to live better and enrich our lives. We also fully embrace our partnership with the Cameron Wellness Center and, quite frankly, we love a good competition,” said DeAngelo.
In the end, there may be only one Biggest Winner, but everyone will enjoy the benefits of improved health.