Weight Watchers at Work

The Weight Watchers at Roosevelt program began the first of its 17-week sessions on Feb. 24.

There are 30 participants currently enrolled at the Chicago campus. Cost of participation is $186 and is paid at the start of the program. The Weight Watchers program is eligible for all faculty, staff and students.

The program is held on Wednesday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in AUD 644 with Weight Watchers leader, Lisa Krueger.

Members participate in private weigh-ins between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The program includes 19 weeks of ETools online subscription program that provides interactive weight loss resources and allows participants to track their eating, activity and weight loss.

In an effort to promote that fact that losing excess weight will improve ones overall health, employees at Roosevelt receive an added benefit.

If at least 15 of the 17 sessions are attended by the participating employee, Roosevelt will provide a rebate of 50 percent of the program fee.

The Weight Watchers at Work program also encourages participants to utilize Roosevelt's stairwells instead of the elevators as means of daily exercise.

Weight Watchers has been working with Roosevelt since April 2008.

Maxine Garcia, assistant to the vice president of human resources, recalls some of the success Weight Watchers has experienced in the Roosevelt community.

"As a result of the program, over the past two years there have been more than a dozen individuals who have lost at least 10 percent of their body weight and several who have become lifetime members, achieving their healthy weight and maintaining that weight over time," Garcia said.

Weight Watchers programs have also been held at the Schaumburg campus when interest was high enough to attract more than 15 participants.