DOH does its own 'Biggest Loser' weight loss challenge

As the Christmas trees and parols are packed up and kept away and we officially end the holidays, government employees and officials gear up to take on that eternal New Year's resolution: to lose weight.

 

For the next six months, government workers will be undergoing a waist-reduction program called "Belly Gud for Health," as implemented by the Department of Health (DOH).

 

The DOH said Monday it is expanding this year's challenge, dubbed "Belly Gud for Health," to other government agencies.

 

“Stress that comes with management work can lead to binge-eating and lack of physical activity that may result to overnutrition. We don’t want our health executives to suffer the consequences of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), thus we are offering our undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, directors, division chiefs and program managers a light and enjoyable challenge to be fit by attaining and maintaining a desirable waist circumference,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said in a news release posted on the DOH's Facebook page.

 

The DOH pointed out that waist circumference, which indicates the amount of visceral fat or fat surrounding inner organs in adults, is a simple way to measure central obesity.

 

According to the DOH, waist circumference is also "a significant indicator of risk for NCDs, particularly heart disease and stroke."

 

"The desirable waist circumference is less than 90 cm for males and less than 80 cm for females," it said.

 

6-month challenge

 

The "Belly Gud for Health" program is the DOH's version of "The Biggest Loser," as government executives get workout counseling, as well as advice on keeping a healthy diet and managing stress. 

 

DOH-produced exercise videos will guide them with proper workouts, even as each executive will also be assigned a personal fitness mentor to help keep them on track.

 

Their progress will be recorded monthly, with recognition and rewards being given to those who have lost inches on their waist. 

 

Once the challenge ends, male and female executives who lost the most inches will be rewarded with prizes that include fruit baskets and gift certificates to a wellness spa.

 

Last year's program included 779 DOH rank-and-file employees, with 10 being recognized as top performers. The top female "loser" lost 9.55 cm from their waist circumference and the top male "loser" lost 5.45 cm. —Amanda Lago/KG, GMA News