Southeastern wellness initiative to hold programs for weight loss and smoking cessation
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University's new Employee Wellness Committee will sponsor its first program called "Southeastern Scale Down" to help employees with weight loss and in developing healthier lifestyles.
As part of the program, the university has partnered with North Oaks Health System to participate in Geaux Lite Louisiana, a statewide competition created by the Louisiana Hospital Association to fight obesity and improve wellness in the state. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entities and individuals who shed the most pounds by March 30. The goal is to lose 200 tons (400,000 pounds) statewide.
Southeastern Director of Recreational Sports and Wellness Dollie Hebert said the program is ideal for those who have a tough time sticking with that New Year's resolution to lose some weight and/or make healthy lifestyle choices.
"Southeastern has partnered with North Oaks Health System in unison with the Louisiana Hospital Association's Geaux Lite initiative to support the pursuit of a life of quality and happiness through this incentive-based weight loss opportunity," Hebert said. "The program involves a pre- and post-weigh-in, options for weight loss support, smoking cessation class and up to $1,000 in awards to individual top 'losers,' across the state who lose the most weight."
The program will kick-off with employee weigh-ins at the Pennington Student Activity Center from Jan. 27 through Feb. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Final weigh-ins are scheduled March 31.
"Together with Southeastern, we challenge those who live and work in this region to consider their lifestyles and join the fight against obesity in our state," said North Oaks Employee Wellness Director Eileen Johnson.
As part of the Employee Wellness initiative, a smoking cessation class will be offered during the spring semester to support the university's charge of becoming a tobacco-free campus by Aug. 1.
For more information about Southeastern Scale Down, contact Hebert at 985-549-2144. For more information about the Geaux Lite Louisiana Statewide Hospital Weight Loss Challenge, contact North Oaks Health System at nohs@northoaks.org or (985) 230-5717.
