Weight loss competitions at the work site: impact on weight, morale and cost-effectiveness.

Three weight loss competitions were held in business/industrial settings. One competition was between three banks; the other two were within industries, either between employee teams selected at random or between divisions of the industry. Attrition in the competitions was less than 1 per cent and weight loss averaged 5.5 kg. Both employees and management reported positive changes in morale and employee/management relations, and both considered the competition important to the success of the program. The cost-effectiveness ratio ($ 2.93 per 1 per cent reduction in percentage overweight) is the best yet reported.