January 5, 2007

Biomedical Engineering wins in Be Fit

The Be Fit program at the MGH teaches participants about healthy eating and exercise under the careful guidance of registered dieticians and certified personal trainers. More than 890 MGHers have participated in the program, now in its eighth phase, and have collectively lost a total of 4,470 pounds. Recently, Be Fit participants gathered in the Clinics Amphitheater for a pep rally to celebrate the success of the Be Fit 7 participants.

MGH's Biomedical Engineering team racked up first place wins in all three main categories — most weight lost, most workouts and most food records — a first in Be Fit's history. They also won the "Steppin' Up" award, which acknowledges the team achieving the greatest increase in number of steps walked from week 1 to week 9. The 22 Biomedical Engineering Be Fit participants were led by team captains Janice Guglielmi and Suzanne Thomas. The group's trainer was Stephen Power of The Clubs at Charles River Park, and their nutritionist was Deb Hollon of MGH Nutrition and Food Services.

The biomedical engineering team celebrates their victory in Be Fit 7.

Other awards went to the Division of Infectious Diseases team, which won the "Slow and Steady" award, while the 101 Merrimack St. team was designated "Most Motivated." Finance/Faculty Development and Radiation Oncology were joint winners of "The Little Engine That Could and Should" award, and the Vincent Obstetrics team won "Most Improved."

Be Fit 8 began Dec. 4 at CNY, where teams from the MGH Transplant Center, the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Professional Billing 1 and 2, the Institute of Health Professions and Building 149 began a friendly fitness competition. In addition, MGH researchers will begin to study the short-and long-term impact of the program on the health of MGH employees who participate. Under the leadership of Anne Thorndike, MD, instructor in Medicine, researchers will assess changes in behavior and clinical measurements such as weight, fasting lipids, fasting glucose and blood pressure.

The Be Fit program is co-sponsored by MGH Nutrition and Food Services and The Clubs at Charles River Park. For more information, access intranet.massgeneral.org/befit/.