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Staying Healthy

Denver Workers Paid To Drop Pounds

Kaiser Enlists Incenta-Health To Help Employees Get Healthy

UPDATED: 5:27 pm MDT April 27, 2004

A new program in the Denver area is paying its employees to lose weight. Kaiser Permanente is hoping Incenta-Health will cut their healthcare costs in the long run.

"We take them through an approach that shows them how to eat. It's about getting them to them to simplify what they are eating and have a more frequent meals," said Todd McGuire, of Incenta Health. "Then we give them ideas on how to build muscle mass. Exercises that aren't just cardiovascular in nature but give them the fat burning little furnace. Every pound of muscle is going to burn about 50 calories a day."

The employees receive a daily reminder through their e-mail which contains exercises for the day and extra motivation.

"It's a constant reminder. People are here helping me go through it every week," said Annie Heath, a Kaiser employee.

As an extra incentive, each employee will receive a check. It may only be $10 to $15 in the beginning but it increases the more you lose. While the money is nice, the employees say it's more about the health.

"I don't have a weight goal in mind, I would just really rather be more healthy, have my clothes fit a little bit better," Heath said.

"To eliminate my dun-laps disease -- my belly's done lapped over my belt and to get to a prescribed weight," said another employee, Greg Fuller.

This is still a pilot program, being tested at two Kaiser locations. Each month, 7NEWS will check in with the employees to see how the program is progressing.

If you or your company want to learn more go to IncentaHealth.com.

April Update

Heath has been in the pilot program for about three months and she's noticing some changes. While those changes aren't on the scale, she's happy anyway.

"I'm feeling really wonderful. My weight hasn't change -- that's not why I'm doing it. I wanted to feel better," she said.

"People say in the beginning, 'You said my hunger would go down and my energy go up and it has. I'm starting to feel better and I think I can really live with this and it's becoming a way of life for me," said McGuire.

While Heath won't be getting an incentive check this time, plenty of others in the program will. You have to lose weight to get money and Fuller, who has lost both inches and weight will get the money.

At least one person has lost 30 pounds.

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