Obesity-related illnesses are a major threat to organisations all over the world but it seems one employer is ramping up efforts to help its workforce lose weight by offering impressive incentives to the most committed slimmers.
Dubai’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has rolled out its 10-week weight-loss program for the past six years but this year, the department teamed up with the UAE General Aviation Authority to provide some extra motivation to overweight employees.
Airline tickets, tech gadgets, gym memberships and cash coupons were all on the line as workers ditched sugary snacks and started taking the stairs.
"This year, we saw a 100 per cent success rate,” said Dr. Ashraf Nazmi, nutritionist specialist from MoHP. “All the participants lost weight.”
Through five follow-up sessions that customised diet and exercise plans for each employee, the campaign recorded a total loss of 70kg of fat, which represents about 540,000 burned calories.
Of the 13 government workers chosen to be part of the ‘Lose Weight, Win Years’ campaign, Fatima Al Naqbi was the standout winner, shedding an incredible 17.7kg.
"Due to my long working hours, I used to eat only two meals a day and snack in between,” she told the Khaleej Times. “But eating healthy snacks and regulating an exercise plan really made a difference."
Al Naqbi also noted that both her activity and mental power had “improved to a high extent" after following a healthy diet.
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