UCSD Healthcare Employees Really Lose It

By Jeffree Itrich I April 18, 2005

In February, UCSD clinical nutritionists put out a question to all UCSD Healthcare employees -- "Who is the Biggest Loser?"

In recognition of National Nutrition Month in March, the Clinical Nutrition Department devised a safe weight loss competition amongst employees. To recruit volunteers, they sent out an email looking for volunteers to join a monthlong contest. Dozens applied and, ultimately, the registered dietitians chose 10 people to participate on two teams. Participants had to agree to meet weekly with assigned dietitians, follow dietary advice, and exercise.

"We wanted to bring attention to Nutrition Month and thought a weight loss contest would be a good way to do it, especially since obesity has reached epidemic proportions" explained Samme Fuchs, UCSD director of Clinical Nutrition. "We expected there would be some interest but were stunned at the number of responses. Nearly a hundred people contacted us."

On March 1st, the 10 team members met as a group with the dietitians in the medical center cafeteria in Hillcrest for the ample weigh-in. It was bad enough to have to step on a scale in front of their peers and the crowds gathered around, but Channel 8 joined the fray and recorded the event for posterity. The television crew asked Angela Nowell, a sixth-floor, traveling nurse, if they could follow her progress. She agreed and allowed them to record her weight loss journey, airing the story in early April.

The Greatest Losers: Top row from left: Chris Clarke, Tony Gumataotao, Jeffrey Andrews, John Mashikian Bottom row from left: Rosa Cazares, Angela Nowell, Tamara Wilson, Tony Cervantes

"Each week the team members met privately with the dietitians, who volunteered their time to develop personal dietary programs for the employees," said Fuchs. "Many of them didn't have to make drastic changes, they just needed to make better choices and start moving around more. We also led a health walk every day for our contestants or anyone who wanted to come. Our CEO, Rich Liekweg, was very supportive of our event and took time out of his very busy schedule to lead one of our health walks."

By the end of the first week, the team members already began showing losses that the dietitians posted in the cafeteria. To encourage their motivation, they continued to post the losses every week.

Clinical Nutrition Team: From left to right: Sayaji Glossner, Raven Lopez, Shannon Cochran, Laurel Lee, Diana Insingo, Mamie Covington, and Samme Fuchs

Finally, the big day came for the last weigh-in on April 1st. The team members arrived pumped and excited and ready to see who would win the grand prize for greatest percentage of weight lost. This time no one minded that Channel 8 was once again filming their scale adventures; this time they had something to show for their efforts.

On Team Two, Jeffrey Andrews lost the most amount of weight at 16.5 pounds but was beat out by Angela Nowell who lost only 9.6 pounds but shed 6.8 percent of her body weight, compared to Andrews' 6.6 percent. Like an athlete surging to the fore, John Mashikian on Team One left them both in the dust as he dashed to first place with his 29 pound, 7.9 percent loss. Enthusiastic applause deafened the hallway cathedral ceilings as a smiling Mashikian accepted the ovation.

"It didn't seem that difficult," said a shy Mashikian afterwards. "I just ate healthfully like they advised, and took a walk every day after lunch." Besides the gift of monumental safe weight loss, Mashikian received a gift basket filled with dried fruit, mixed nuts, canned vegetables and beans, bath soaps from Trader Joe's, as well as a $50 Target gift card, compliments of the Nestle Company. The two teams lost a total of 107 pounds, averaging 11.4 per person and an average weight loss percentage of 4.7 percent. Way to go Team UCSD! Now where's that candy bar we stashed away the end of February?