Florida Hospital System (see more articles like this)

Every day millions of Americans fight the battle of the bulge.  In fact, approximately 127 million Americans are overweight. Florida Hospital employees often treat patients with obesity-related problems, while at the same time they are often dealing with being overweight themselves. In an effort to help employees lose weight, the Florida Hospital Healthcare System has launched the “Employee Health Challenge.”

The four-month Challenge joins teams of employees from various departments and units throughout the Florida Hospital system in a competition to lose the most cumulative weight as a team. Employees are encouraged to eat right, exercise, and motivate each other, all in an effort to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. 

As a team captain, Tammy Useman, is charged with keeping her team and herself motivated and on track with their weight loss.  Each week, Useman prepares a different hand out with nutrition tips, new exercise techniques, or just fun facts about losing weight.  Team members within Useman’s team are also using different weight loss techniques to create a challenge within the challenge.  Some are using specific programs like Jenny Craig, others are exercising more, while others are eating more balance meals.  “For many of us it’s an everyday struggle to stay focused on losing weight,” said Useman.  “Having a team of support around really helps to keep all of us motivated.”

In conjunction, the Florida Hospital Diabetes Center is offering a special program called “Healthy Steps.” This program gives participants nutritional counseling as well as access to the Diabetes Center Fitness Center. 

“We are hoping that through this challenge, employees will not only take the weight off but keep it off and learn to live a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. Paul Garrett, senior medical director of the Florida Hospital Healthcare System. 

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