Tomago Aluminium and the Faculty of Education and Arts’ Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition ‘Workplace POWER’ weight loss research program have been announced as finalists in the prestigious Australian National Preventative Health Awards.

The Workplace POWER (Preventing Obesity Without Eating like a Rabbit) weight loss research program was targeted to appeal to the blue-collar mostly male shift workers at Tomago Aluminium because obesity in this population is highly prevalent. Shift work is also associated with major work performance limitations (e.g. fatigue and injuries) and health problems particularly for those working in heavy industry.

The program involved employees attending a 90-minute education session with co-director of the Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, Professor Philip Morgan, which included education about energy balance, the challenges of shift work relating to diet and exercise, and behaviour change strategies including self-monitoring, goal setting and social support.

The program was a great success with participants experiencing improvements in both health and worksite outcomes.

Professor Morgan and his team are one of four finalists in the category Healthy Workplace Awards for Team Excellence in Workplace Health and Well-being – Large Workplace (200+ workers).

The awards promote leadership in the area of preventative health to celebrate and award excellence in prevention and health promotion practice.