Healthy at work

Giving up her Swedish Fish habit has been tough, but Mary Ann Kiely knows her health is worth it. Kiely, an associate vice president for development in the Office of the Senior Vice President, Health Affairs, altered her meal choices after a bad number popped up during a health screening. “I am at a point in my life where I cannot eat the way I have before,” she said. “Moderation and smart choices have to become a lifestyle change.” To jumpstart that transformation, Kiely joined the Healthy Lifestyle Challenge, a six-week weight-loss competition for UF Health Science Center faculty and staff. This year, 130 participants from seven teams — the colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Health Professions, Veterinary Medicine and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs — lost a combined total of 670.2 pounds. The College of Pharmacy, with a weight-loss percentage of 3.6, won the overall team competition. Between April 18 and May 30, its 15 participants dropped 101.3 pounds. Weekly seminars were held on healthy eating and fitness beyond the challenge. Now, Sanetz sees participants talking with one another if they fall off course. Coworkers also share healthy recipes and exercising together, said organizer Erin Sanetz, an administrative assistant in the College of Public Health and Health Professions dean’s office. Besides bragging rights, the College of Pharmacy received a trophy and 35 percent of the money pool, which consisted of a $15-per-participant fee and $1 for every missed weekly weigh-in or weight gained. Each team’s male and female winners were awarded 2.5 percent of the money, and overall male and female challenge winners took 15 percent. Weekly winners received $5 gift cards to places like Trader Joes and Publix. — Nicole La Hoz