Staff at Dolphin Drilling in Aberdeen have lost a combined 68kg in body weight as a result of a new health challenge.
The eight-week Global Health Challenge, organised by Global Health Promotions (GHP), saw 21 Dolphin employees attempt to improve important health markers such as waist circumference, body fat percentage, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They also gained education on healthy eating, diabetes, alcohol awareness and stress in addition to facing weekly health challenges.
The health and wellbeing of oil and gas workers has been a highly discussed topic in recent times.
Rachel Kidd, co-director of GHP, said: “It was refreshing to see Dolphin Drilling encouraging and supporting healthy changes within their personnel’s lifestyles. With approximately 25% of our week spent at work, it is very important to be working in a healthy environment. To know that your employer is supportive of this makes healthier lifestyle changes a lot easier to engage in.”
The Global Health Challenge was designed to create a friendly yet competitive atmosphere within the workplace. Over the eight-week challenge, the 21 participants successfully reduced body weight by 68kg, body fat percentage by 33% and collectively lost 26 inches from their waists.
Claire Chernouski, co-director of GHP, has been a registered dietitian within the oil and gas industry for four years.
She said: “You could really feel their team spirit throughout the challenge. We were really impressed with the effort everyone put in. An individual reducing their weight by 5-10kg can have a life-changing impact on their health with massive reductions in the risk of developing type II diabetes, cancers, CHD and generally increasing their quality of life.”
Andy Thain, rig manager at Dolphin Drilling, said: “Taking part in the Global Health Challenge was both informative and rewarding.
“The presentations delivered by GHP were detailed and the team challenges created around the topics were very enjoyable. Everyone that took part in the challenge was successful in improving their overall health awareness and the majority benefited from some fantastic results.”