In an effort to promote health and wellness, the Weight Watchers program is returning to Hillsdale College’s campus starting this fall.
An informational meeting for those interested in learning more about Weight Watchers will be on Oct. 31 and the program will start the following week. The program will last 12 weeks and the registration fee will depend on the number of participants.
Each program member will have an initial meeting with the Weight Watchers leader, Karey Stevens, to set short-term and long-term weight and health goals, Hillsdale College staff nurse Carol Drews said.
The participants will meet weekly at the Ambler Health and Wellness Center for individual weigh-ins and group discussion on different aspects of healthy living.
“No one will ever know the participants weight or goals besides themselves and Karey,” Drews said.
Along with individual’s goals, membership in the program is also completely anonymous.
Those eligible for membership include not only students, but also professors, family members of professors, and graduate students.
Weight Watchers was on Hillsdale’s campus a few years ago, but was discontinued due to a lack of participation, Drews said.
Drews was the main force behind restarting the program on Hillsdale’s campus.
“I think it will be stronger this year,” Drews said. “It’s a nutritionally sound and reputable way to work on weight loss. It creates a great environment and accountability for learning and sticking to making healthy choices.”
Brock Lutz, director of health services, has a lot of experience working with self-help groups and said he thinks the program’s group setting will be good for the participants.
“It is always encouraging to have other people who are going through the same things as you, I think that’s why these types of programs are so successful,” Lutz said.
At least 15 people have to register for the fall program in order for it to proceed. Weight Watchers programs will continue throughout the year if there is enough interest, Drews said.
“It’s not in cement yet, but the administration has talked about reimbursing a percentage of the registrations fees for the participants that successfully finish the program,” Drews said. “That would be a big deal because it really shows that the administration cares about the health and wellness of its students and faculty.”
The addition of the program is to further promote the new philosophy of the health department which was implemented last year when Brock Lutz became the director of health services.
The new philosophy focuses more on trying to promote mental and physical health on campus rather than only responding to illnesses, said Lutz.
“When you are doing things that are healthier, like eating better and taking care of yourself, it’s a logical conclusion that you are going to feel better about yourself. The point of the program is not to fixate on your weight, but to learn what healthy eating looks like,” Lutz said.
Stevens, who has been a Weight Watchers leader for five years, is excited to have the program back at Hillsdale College.
“The program really works,” she said. “I lost 165 pounds, and I’ve been at my goal weight for five years now. I’m Weight Watchers tried and true, and I can’t wait to share it with more people.”
