Arvada resident Monica Michaels, 61, was trying to loose weight when she joined the Kaiser Permanente Weigh and Win program.
The free, community wellness program, has been helping, and incentivizing, participants to achieve a healthy weight since 2011. In July, the program reached a new milestone, enrolling 100,000 Coloradans.
“It’s great,” Michaels said. “I’ve got way more energy, my health improved and I’ve gotten off four medications. Which is a great thing.”
Since joining the program 2011, Michaels has lost 125 pounds, bringing her to more than 200 pounds lost throughout her journey.
For her, the most helpful aspect is the daily inspiration emails and the progression photos.
Kaiser Permanente Weigh and Win is a technology-based wellness program, that hosts more than 125 community accessible weigh-in locations and delivers 1.2 million fitness and nutrition plans to participants each month.
“When we launched this program in 2011, we wanted to create an easy and approachable way for the Colorado community to interact with their health goals,” said Jandel Allen-Davis, MD, Kaiser Permanente Colorado vice president of government, external relations and research. “We had no idea it would reach this many people in more than 125 locations across the state. We’re proud of this program and all the Coloradans who signed up and took control of their health.”
The weigh-in kiosk creates a photo booth experience at the scale by taking a full body photo of the participant, in addition to a validated weight measurement. The kiosk aims to change the medical tone of weight loss to create a fun, encouraging environment while also providing personal motivation.
“I really like that every time you weigh in they take your picture so they can see your progression online,” Michaels said. “It really helps me see the weight loss in perspective. It really is helpful and encouraging.”
Michaels weights in monthly at the Apex Center in Arvada, where sure does her workouts.
“I just think it’s great that Kaiser did this to help people get more healthy,” Michaels said. “It does cost anything and it’s so convenient.”
