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At a time when most hospitals are actively involved in treating
obesity-related diseases, Memorial Hospital and Manor of Bainbridge,
Georgia is taking a proactive role in preventing this epidemic by
creating "Team Lean," an innovative community-wide weight loss program.
Team Lean, is a 12-week weight loss competition among teams of five
people per team. After two successful Team Lean competitions for its
employees, Memorial Hospital and Manor approached the
Bainbridge/Decatur County YMCA about working together to offer a Team
Lean competition to the entire community.
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The team approach to weight loss proved to be a positive motivator. The
team effort, mixed with the accountability of weekly weigh-ins and the
chance to win some cash, made this first Team Lean community
competition amazingly successful with a total of 16,154 lbs. lost in 12
weeks. Over 1000 people began the competition and 906 stayed with it
for the entire time, resulting in a 90% success rate. Twelve people
lost over 20% of their body weight and 302 people lost between 10% and
20% of their weight. The top individual loser lost 111 lbs., or 31% of
his total body weight.
The YMCA encouraged exercise by waiving its initial membership fee for each Team Lean participant who joined the YMCA during the competition. Also, Memorial Hospital and Manor gave free blood screenings to measure cholesterol and glucose at the beginning and ending of the competition. The average cholesterol decreased by 8 points, the average triglycerides decreased by 30 points, and the average glucose decreased by 4 points. Free educational programs about nutrition and exercise were held during the 12-week competition for Team Lean participants.
At the end of the competition, the top 38 teams and top 5 individual
losers were awarded cash prizes for their efforts. Over $64,000 was
collected from participants who paid $5.00 at each weekly weigh-in and
$1.00 penalty for each pound gained. All of the money was returned in
the form of prizes. As an extra incentive to keep losing weight, a
6-month weigh-in was held at Memorial Hospital and Manor on October
24, 2007, for Team Lean participants who continued losing
weight. Awards of $250 were given to the top 20 individuals who
had
lost the highest percentage of weight from January 31, 2007 through
October 24, 2007. The "Biggest Loser" at the 6-month weigh-in
lost 31.2% of his body weight. A new Team Lean competition began
in January
2008 with almost 1000 participants again.
Team Lean is a fairly simple, but successful competition. Teams are
comprised of five individuals from businesses, churches, civic
organizations, schools and other groups. Each team chooses its own
unique name. All participants weigh-in at designated locations and pay
$5.00 each week. For each pound gained, participants pay $1.00. At the
end of 12 weeks, all funds collected are distributed to the top 20% of
teams with the highest percentages of weight loss. Individuals may
compete in this competition, as well. Cash prizes will also be given to
the top male and female biggest losers.
Team Lean 2008
The second community-wide Team Lean competition sponsored by
Memorial Hospital and Manor and the Bainbridge/Decatur County YMCA has
ended with 13,115.80 pounds lost by 763 people in 12 weeks. James
Roberts of "Four Hens and a Rooster" won $1500 as the overall Biggest
Loser with a total weight loss of 31.4%.
Winners of the competition were announced during an awards ceremony and monetary awards were given to the top 20% of the participating teams and individuals. Cash prizes were also be given to the overall Biggest Loser and the top five male and female biggest losers. All funds collected from participants were awarded to the winners. Winning teams and individuals were determined by the highest percentage of weight lost from the first weigh-in on January 3 to the last weigh-in on March 27.
When Team Lean began in January, 930 people registered to compete on five-person teams or as individuals. Before the 12-week competition ended, 167 had dropped out, leaving 763 remaining in the competition. In the end, 146 teams were competing, and 91 people participated in an individual competition. The first Team Lean community competition in 2007 was amazingly successful with a total of 16,154 lbs. lost in 12 weeks. Over 1000 people began the competition and 906 stayed with it for the entire time, resulting in a 90% success rate. Twelve people lost over 20% of their body weight and 302 people lost between 10% and 20% of their weight. The top individual loser lost 111 lbs., or 31% of his total body weight. Although the total amount lost in last year's competition was greater than the total amount lost this year, the average weight lost per participant was approximately the same at about 17 lbs. in 12 weeks.