Dubai: A weight-loss competition targeting government employees inspired one of them to shed as much as 17.7 kilograms in a matter of 10 weeks and go on to encourage the same healthy lifestyle she adopted among her family members.

Fatima Al Naqbi, director of Customer Service at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, admitted that apart from the healthy diet, she walked 10km on weekends and 3km everyday.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention along with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) held the sixth edition of the competition ‘Lose Weight … Win Years” among employees who were facing weight and health issues as a result of unhealthy lifestyles.

Up to 14 of the shortlisted participants — seven each from the MoH and GCAA and between the ages of 26 and 56 — were put through a diet and exercise programme, which was monitored by a nutritionist and a training specialist from the ministry.

For the first time in six years of the programme, a participant was able to lose 17.7 kilograms. First place winner Al Naqbi, who weighed 82kg before joining, said it was her willpower that kept her moving.

“I joined the programme because I wanted to change the bad habits I had adopted as a result of the work routine. I used to sit in the office all day and have only two meals with a big gap in between. I was convinced I had no time to exercise because of work. I realised that whatever I was doing was making me put on weight and affecting my health.”

She believes maintaining a balanced diet and exercise helped her to be more productive at work.

“Everybody thought I was going to quit halfway but it wasn’t as hard as it seemed. The nutrition plan helped a lot because it gave each of us healthier food options. It was a good challenge, but I didn’t join to win, I joined because I wanted to become more healthy.”

Al Naqbi said she inspired her entire family to join her walking exercise on the weekend. “None of my colleagues believed that I lost so much weight without going through a liposuction.”

On Thursday, all participants were honoured for being part of the competition and achieving a change in their diet and lifestyle. Each of them was also handed prizes and gift vouchers. Al Naqbi received two tickets to fly to a destination of her choice.

Dr Ashraf Nazmi, a nutrition specialist in the health and promotion department at Ministry of Health and Prevention, who worked with the participants, said all 14 employees had lost a total of 70kg of fat, which equals to 539,000 calories.

“This year’s competition achieved a 100 per cent success rate, no one had gained weight and 13 employees continued the ten weeks of the programme.”

Dr Nazmi said the programme received many applications from employees, but those who required it the most were selected.

“We shortlisted employees who had a higher body mass index or had medical problems like diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. This was part of the criteria. We also selected those with a higher motivation, because we wanted them to continue towards the goal.”

Every two weeks, the participants met up to ensure they were not facing any issues.

“A diet plan and exercise plan was introduced to each employee. We sat with each to discuss the food they like and dislike. We also gave them a pedometer to measure how many steps they were taking every day. They had to take at least 10,000 steps every day to stay healthy.”

Dr Nazmi said Al Naqbi took the competition seriously from the start and would go for a three-hour exercise every day. “She maintained a good diet from the start, and we followed up with her to ensure she got her daily intake of vitamins.”

Al Naqbi says she never wants to go back to her unhealthy lifestyle and will continue her walk, exercise and diet even though the programme has ended.