Company benefits from workers eating healthy

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Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00a.m.

A group of South Auckland workers have stopped eating pies and chips after two colleagues died of heart attacks.

Their company has taken the unusual step of taking work time to get them fitter and healthier.

A health audit found one in four of them could have a heart attack in the next five years, so the lines maintenance company took action - and the workers are losing weight fast.

Vern Rosier used to grab a sweet snack without even thinking about it, but he and his workmates had a rude awakening recently - two of their colleagues died of heart attacks, and one was only 29.

"We couldn't get our heads around the fact that he was so young and something like that happening to him," says Mr Rosier.

It gave everyone at the company a jolt, but they were about to be shocked even more - a health audit of Northpower workers found one in four was at risk of a heart attack in the next five years.

They were not looking after their health or eating the right kind of food.

The audit was a wake-up call for the company too, so Northpower hired another company that specialises in on the job education and exercise.

Mr Rosier and the others have now changed their ways. Instead of skipping breakfast every day, now they have a healthy meal. They eat more fruit, less junk and get out walking.

Twelve weeks into it, they are showing results. Altogether they've lost 238kg between about 70 of them - an average of 4kg, or a sack of potatoes each.

The health buzz is really catching on, because they're doing it together at work.

Northpower is one of few employers that has brought such a programme into the workplace, but as an employer, they'll ultimately reap the benefits.

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Comments

18 Jul 2009 05:00a.m.

John wrote:

I know I am a long way behind the times and I will strive to get fet to aquire a nice younger bottom and fitter heart to ensure I survive. At least these highly charged guys are switched on enough to recover from the shocks and empower themselves. I lack motivation but I did walk several miles yesterday to get the message of small incremental daily changes.
I used to love pies,cream, and burgers and hot dogs but feel their day has been and gone as ecology rules OKay. Society cannnot wait much longer for safe weight loss. But I agree with the big guys that doing it together as a company on the job is easier than single efforts. It is bonding and team building for a start, and people are prepared to get real and upfront about their body phobias and stuff. I expect fitness restores vitality and sexual potency as well!
The Government needs a harder hitting obesity strategy which really targets fruits like lemons, kiwis, strawberries and cherries as being essential for family values, and that we should support locally grown produce like carrots, brussel sprouts, parsnips and sweetheart cabbages!
Families that eat the right stuff will live long and prosper, and save the taxpayer money! GROMIT 2