Contact: Karin Retskin, 277-1832 Media Contact: Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

August 30, 2002 FACULTY, STAFF WATCH THEIR WEIGHT ON CAMPUS STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO JOIN University of New Mexico Staff Council Administrative Assistant Karin Retskin and Sandrea Gonzales, director of the Women's Resource Center, recently helped bring Weight Watchers meetings to campus. A Weight Watchers member for two years maintaining a weight loss of 60 pounds, Retskin discovered through research that other universities offer meetings, several subsidize the effort as part of campus wellness programs. "I got excited that other schools even had meetings on campus," she says. "My long term goal is to work with the UNM Benefits Office to include it as part of the PIPP (Pre-Paid Premium Plan)." About 35 faculty and staff have been members of the campus group since late spring. Combined, they have shed more than 300 pounds. A second 10-week session got underway in August. "We are interested in having more people join us, including students," Retskin says. "The meeting is open only to faculty, staff and students." Retskin says the benefits of weight loss for employees can be easily measured. "A healthy staff person comes to work everyday," she notes. The Internal Revenue Service recently made the cost of commercial diet programs tax-deductible if certain qualifications are met. For information about how to join, call 277-1532. ###

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981