Agents celebrate Fit Club weight loss

One contact centre has seen a combined company weight loss of 166 stone since introducing a fitness club.

The EDF Energy Fit Club is part of a new better health programme introduced to coincide with the health and wellbeing strategy adopted throughout the company. The scheme encourages workers to carry out exercise, eat healthily and lose weight through teamwork and earn points for their efforts.

Throughout 2013, the three Fit Club programmes at the company’s Doxford Park site led to a total weight loss of 166 stones among those involved. In addition, two local customer service workers recently celebrated becoming ‘top losers’ in a company-wide health initiative involving more than 500 participants.

Carole Hall and Jemma Gouch, who work at EDF Energy at Doxford International Business Park, were both successful in the Better Health at Work Fit Club programme that is operated at several of the company’s offices across the country.

Carole finished top in the weight loss category by losing 1.5 stones during the 10-week club, while Jemma Gouch lost the highest percentage of body weight among those who participated in Sunderland, with a total loss of almost 10%.

“Being in a work-based Fit Club team really works because it creates a bit of healthy competition and encourages you to do well as you don’t want to let your team down,” said Carole Hall from Durham. “It also means having the support of your colleagues and not being tempted by unhealthy snacks as there was always a good supply of fruit in the office.”

“I joined the Fit Club so I could monitor my wellbeing on a weekly basis and to keep me focused,” said Jemma Gouch from South Shields. “It also motivated me as I knew I wasn’t alone on the journey to improve my wellbeing.”