Why You Should Consider Starting a Workplace Fitness Weight Loss Competition (and How to Do It)

Between sitting at a desk, commuting to work, and perusing our mobile devices, entrepreneurs can be quite sedentary. This lack of movement contributes to obesity and other health issues, both mental and physical, that so many of us experience.

Obesity also impacts both profits and productivity. A 2017 review of 50 studies on the subject in the medical journal BMJ Open revealed “substantial costs due to lost productivity among workers with obesity.” It’s no wonder companies want to help employees stay healthy by offering employee perks like gym memberships or on-site gyms. However, these don’t always offer enough incentive for employees to focus on weight loss or health.

One idea is to offer a workplace weight loss competition. Employees in any department, both local and remote, can compete to see who can lose the most weight. Before starting, check with a professional or nutritionist to make sure you like the concept. Employees may also want to get cleared by their doctor beforehand.

You can organize a fitness challenge through a company that specializes in this. One called HealthyWage partners with you to guide team members through competitions. Another, Called DietBet, lets you join competitions involving thousands of players from…