Employers needed for Slimdown Weight Loss Challenge

Fort HealthCare’s 2013 Slimdown Weight Loss Challenge encourages employees of our local businesses and other area residents to engage in exercise and healthy nutrition with a goal of reduced weight and improved emotional health. The ultimate goal is to improve the health and well-being of our community, as described in the Fort HealthCare mission statement. Participants are invited to join their employer-sponsored team to compete in the Challenge, and to compare their progress against other teams within the company and across the community.

The Challenge is free to individual participants. Employers wishing to participate in the Slimdown Challenge pay a sponsorship fee of $500 by January 18 to offset Challenge costs (materials, program development and prizes). In return, the company name and logo will be included on the Challenge website and in all promotions (posters, ads, news releases, etc.). Each sponsor will be featured once during the Challenge as a weekly prize sponsor and will receive a digital scale for the duration of the Challenge including onsite weigh-ins/weigh-outs.

Employer sponsors to date are Nasco and Fort HealthCare.

Fort HealthCare requires participating employers and community partners designate site leaders to help with promotion, registration and if possible, allow those without home internet access to utilize computers to track weight loss. Team captains will be trained in Challenge management on January 22nd at Fort Memorial Hospital from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The Slimdown Weight Loss Challenge is meant to inspire participants to take responsibility for their physical health and wellness. The Challenge is open to anyone who works for one of the participating employers or lives in area towns and cities with participating community groups. Participants are asked to register online at FortHealthCare.com/Slimdown2013 prior to the start of the Challenge. All participants must be present for an official weigh-in and weigh-out. Teams of 4-6 individuals are required (participants can only join one team), and all team members must be 18 years of age or older. Participants can record their weight online daily to monitor their efforts. Weekly health and wellness information and a quiz will be available.

Registration and official weigh-ins for Challenge participants occur February 4th through 14th. The Challenge start date is February 18, 2013 and continues until May 13, 2013.

Awards will be given for:
• Team with greatest percentage of weight loss at end of Challenge (Grand Prize- $250 per participant)
• All teams with at least a 10% total weight loss at end of Challenge (Four teams selected- $250 per participant)
• Individuals with at least a 10% total weight loss at end of Challenge (Random Prize Drawing- 10 winners at $100 each)
• Participants that complete the weekly online quiz (Random Prize Drawing- three winners per week at $25 each)

The Slimdown Challenge is offered by Fort HealthCare as a part of the organization’s Let’s Do This! community health initiative. Employers interested in participating should contact Sharon Rateike, Employee and Corporate Wellness Program Coordinator at sharon.rateike@forthc.com or call 920-568-5475. Additional information can be found at www.FortHealthCare.com/Slimdown2013.