EAST TEXAS (KYTX) -- Research shows that healthy people make better employees and that seems to be the case at UT Health Science Center in Tyler.
In the first week of their 12 week challenge, employees lost more than 670 pounds combined.
"They work together collaborate, motivate each other, keep each other driven," Cody Boyd said. "They're helping each other because of the final goal, reason why they're doing it, making it a healthier place and making themselves healthier in general."
Boyd is on the wellness committee. He's trying to lose 20 pounds and seven are already gone. He said he and a lot of his co-workers are walking at UT Health Science Center. They've mapped out two, mile and a half courses; one inside and one outside.
"People are more active," he said. "They're more willing to do things such as instead of making a phone call... People are getting up and going to that person to relay a message..."
Before Bob Armstrong accepted the challenge, he joined the 10 in 10 Challenge. He said it was a wake up call.
"When I weighed in front of about a 150 employees I was at 297 pounds," he said. "And that really hit home for me. I knew I needed to make a drastic change."
He started walking and controlling his portions at meal time with the help of an app called "My Fitness Pal."
He's dropped 23 pounds.
"I've actually gotten into some of my older clothes and I have replaced a couple of belts and that was a really good feeling."
Bob feels more energetic and so do his co-workers.
Lauri Thomas, the surgical services director, said what's good for the employees is also good for their patients.
"I really feel like that is flowing over into their patient care and it's really raising the level of everything we do."
Now, five weeks into the challenge, the group has lost more than 1,600 pounds.
At the end of UT Health Science Center's competition, the top three teams and individuals will receive awards.
