The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (HSA) just wrapped up their 90 day workplace wellness programme, called ‘Take the Challenge – Be Fit: Stay Healthy’, geared towards promoting fitness and general well-being among the HSA’s employees.

Dr Kiran Kumar, Medical Officer of Health, said he was pleased with the results of this programme and praised those who managed to complete the 90 days.

“We are delighted that 19 individuals managed to follow the programme from start to finish,” Dr Kumar said. “We know that many of those who successfully completed the challenge did so using the buddy system to keep them motivated, a key strategy for success.”

The participants who completed the programme saw a combined total of 79.8 lbs reduction in weight that resulted in an impressive overall reduction of 28.5 inches in waist circumference for the group and an overall 12.7% reduction in body fat.

While all those who completed the challenge were to be congratulated, Dr Kumar had special words of praise for the top four winners: Ann-Marie Webb (first place), Debbie Harding (second place), Joy Merren and Oscar Calidonio (tied for third place). Winners earned points for completing exercise logs, achieving stress management goals and accomplishing physical activity goals, as well as losing weight and lowering their body mass index (BMI).

“These winners have achieved remarkable results and have shown that, with determination and will-power, a healthy weight and lifestyle can be achieved,” Dr Kumar said. “For the group as a whole, their good cholesterol increased, bad cholesterol decreased and their blood pressure went down following the completion of the programme, all positive indicators that they have made an improvement to their health.”

Health Services Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Lizzette Yearwood, said the positive outcomes from this programme reiterates the reason for the HSA to continue the programme.

“The success of our 2014 programme has galvanised us into ensuring we continue,” Ms Yearwood said. “Study after study indicates that chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure can be alleviated by maintaining a healthy weight and following a healthy lifestyle. The prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases is also the focus of this year’s Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference this coming November,” she said. “We have made it a priority to encourage our own staff to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible and to reduce their risk of developing such diseases. I congratulate our staff for committing to and finishing the programme.”