The top 'Biggest Loser' team (l. to r.) Jen Naji, Kellie Barnes, Tyesha Godwin and Teel Summer. Not pictured: Jen Perno.
In keeping with Penn Medicine’s focus on improving the health of both our patients and employees, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Nursing Renewal – an on-site place for staff to relax and re-energize -- decided to run a ‘Biggest Loser’ competition for charity. More than 200 staff members participated in the three-month team challenge and, in the final weigh-in, they lost a total of more than 435 pounds. Their loss meant an impressive gain for a charitable organization, as well, through donation of the money participants paid to be part of the competition.
Summer Teel, a staff nurse on Founders 14 (a general medical patient care unit), and her team were judged the ‘biggest losers,’ shedding a total of 35 pounds between them.
“Groups can be a big source of encouragement and advice,” said Andrea Spivack, MA, RD, LDN, of Penn’s Stunkard Weight Management Program. “There’s a ‘we’re in this together’ mentality that works. No one wants to let down a team member.”
Losing weight with coworkers can be especially good, she added. “There’s extra social pressure – you might be less likely to order fried food at lunch if you know your coworkers are watching,” she said. “And you share a common goal – you can take walks at lunch, celebrate victories.”
To help participants succeed, the Center offered food-of-the-week tips and other information that team leaders passed along to their members, along with daily exercise classes.
Spivack recommended keeping a food log as well, an excellent way to be aware of what – and how much – you’re eating. And dieters are reminded to check the calorie and fat content of foods on restaurant menus, or go online to use the databases at http://www.calorieking.com/. Even foods that seem healthy can have excess calories lurking within them, and it’s easy to take in enough fat for the day in just one meal without even knowing it.
The Biggest Loser challenge ran from November through February, which meant participants had to make it through the holiday season – a notoriously tough time even for maintaining a healthy weight, let alone losing pounds. “I kept telling my team, ‘I know you’ll eat over holidays. Don’t worry – just start again,’” Teel said.
“This is key, helping teammates hit the ‘reset’ button and not give up,” Spivack said. “But don’t wait till the next day. Start up again at the next meal.”
Before starting any diet, Spivack stressed, it’s important to always talk with a primary care physician. “Losing weight is basically eating less and moving more but there are unhealthy ways to do it,” Spivack said. “You want to lose weight at a safe rate, with a diet that’s appropriate for your medical history.”
The total weight loss wasn’t the only winning part of this challenge. All of the participants donated $5 to compete, with the total going to a charitable organization of the winning team’s choice. Teel donated the $1,200 to an organization close to her heart: the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. A friend of hers died almost 10 years ago of the disease, and another is battling it, but is in remission now.
Jean Romano, director of the Nursing Network Center, said the first ‘Biggest Loser’ contest was so successful that they plan to make it an annual event.