Nearly 100 staff and students at the Isle of Man College of Further Education will face the weighing scales and tape measure next week at the end of a five week health and fitness challenge.
A total of 96 participants were weighed and had their body fat measured on January 9 at the beginning of the inaugural ‘Kick-Start Challenge’, and will face the scales again on Thursday, February 13.
Participants have been given pedometers, on loan from the Public Health Directorate, to monitor their daily steps, as well as food diaries to keep them on the right track.
The challenge is the brainchild of the college’s health and wellbeing co-ordinator, Kate Bergquist, who aims to promote a more balanced approach than the typical January detox.
‘Weight loss isn’t just about what the scales say, and healthy eating is not all about counting calories,’ she said.
‘The Kick-Start Challenge aims to encourage staff and students to adopt a more sensible and holistic approach to fitness and nutrition.’
The pedometers have been a particular success in fostering a competitive spirit.
‘It’s been great to watch people pacing up and down the corridors during their lunch break trying to increase their daily step count’, said Ms Bergquist. ‘The pedometer challenge is a fun and easy way for staff and students to improve their physical and mental well-being.”
Ian Sheard, assistant principal, said: ‘Kate’s work on the challenge has been a great way to improve everyone’s work-life balance’.