FARMINGTON — LEAP Inc., in partnership with the Healthy Community Coalition, recently concluded a 16-week wellness program for employees designed to educate people on the benefits of healthier living. A total of 55 employees participated in a variety of activities including volleyball, snowshoeing on Maine Huts and Trails, and several “lunch and learns” around nutrition, exercise and stress reduction. Although the main focus was wellness, not weight reduction, one component of the program was getting on the scales and recording weight loss.

Results of the program are as follows:

Total weight lost by all participants was 306.4 pounds. Twelve people lost more than 10 pounds, two lost more than 20 and one lost more than 30 pounds. Eleven individuals participated in four or more activities, with the top person participating in 10. Individual winners were Matthew Levensalor and Marsha Taylor for participation, and Ashley Wentworth for greatest percentage of weight loss.

The goal of LEAP’s wellness programs is to encourage and motivate people to consider the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, so that they are happy, healthy and well. LEAP supports individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live and work in the communities of their choice throughout West-Central Maine. For more information about LEAP programs or employment,  visit www.leapcommunity.org