“Lighten Up” Program Leads to Positive Results for Hospital and Community
by Maureen Scullin, CCWS
When St. Joseph Healthcare of Nashua, NH, launched the third year of Lighten Up Nashua in January 2014, the hospital decided to throw a party. The event celebrated the launch of the program’s latest weight-loss challenge.
And despite the fact that it was January in New England, a time when many are holed up at home, over 250 people showed up. That’s a pretty impressive turnout, and it reflects the community’s strong commitment to health and wellness—year round.
Employees from area businesses, neighbors, friends, and hospital staff have all embraced the Lighten Up Nashua program, with impressive results: Over the three years the program has been running, people in Nashua and the surrounding area have lost over 6,600 pounds so far—and gained a lot of healthier citizens.
Jason’s weight-loss story
Jason, Lighten Up Nashua success story, on the cover of the Winter 2014 issue of St. Joseph’s “Healthy Choices” newsletter.
Jason’s experience is just one of many Lighten Up Nashua success stories. It illustrates the impact that a single program can have on individuals in a community and shows just how powerful teamwork can be when combined with healthier eating habits and increased physical activity.
When Jason registered for the Lighten Up Nashua program with a group of co-workers last June, his aim was to drop 30 pounds. From previous fitness and dieting experiences, Jason was confident that he could reach his modest target, but early success with the program encouraged him to set his sights on a much more aggressive weight-loss goal. Jason’s revised plan was to lose 100 pounds in six months and go from a weight of 332 pounds to around 232.