The Biggest Loser is a part of our year-around wellness program, which has given us recognition since 2010 by the American Heart Association as a Fit-Friendly Employer in the Gold Category. We’re looking to continue this trend with 92 employees involved in this year’s competition—our best participation yet!

To track everyone’s weight loss, participants are weighed-in at the beginning and end of the contest with three optional weigh-ins in between. We’ve also implemented the use of the Lose It app, which tracks food intake and exercise sessions to help employees set goals throughout the contest.

By measuring weight loss percentage rather than pounds, employees who already live healthy lifestyles can participate as well. Plus, smaller challenges throughout the program allow more people to win while providing additional motivation.

As for the biggest winners of the Biggest Loser competition, a cash prize is awarded through a $5 buy-in, plus additional prizes:

- 1st Prize—50% of the pot and a $75 gift card
- 2nd Prize—30% of the pot and a $50 gift card
- 3rd Prize—20% of the pot and a $25 gift card

Kelly Turk, Compensation and Benefits Specialist for OSG, oversees the competition and recognizes the benefits of pushing wellness at OSG. “We’re already ahead of the game as far as wellness. Other companies are only now starting to incorporate fitness into their companies—we’ve been doing this for 6 years! By tying wellness into cost benefits, we incentivize people by offering discounts on their health insurance as well as other prizes. We want to encourage people to be healthy and go to the doctor to stay well long past the competition.”

We wish everyone competing the best of luck and can’t wait to see who this year’s Biggest Loser will be!