Hospiten has completed its second edition of the 180 Challenge, an initiative whose main objective is to promote the improvement of nutritional and sports habits among its staff to prevent cardiovascular diseases. In this edition, 18 Hospiten employees from different departments took part, including central offices, administrative, maintenance and healthcare staff. This challenge was carried out over six months through a complete routine of sports activities, medical follow-up, nutritional re-education and medical check-ups. In addition, this year the staff received psychological support from professionals from the Faculty of Health Sciences of the European University of the Canary Islands.

"All the people who have participated in the challenge feel better, more optimistic, more active, with more energy. We can say that they have improved their state of health," said Dr. Pedro Laynez, medical director of El Reto 180 and head of Internal Medicine at the Hospiten Rambla University Hospital.

Likewise, "in general terms, there has been a moderate reduction in weight, although that is not the most important thing. In most patients, there has been a reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides and an improvement in insulin resistance, as well as an increase in muscle mass and a better distribution of body fat. This is very remarkable, as it means that the patient has better health in the sense of cardiovascular risk. But what is also important is the improvement in quality of life," says Dr. Laynez.

The specialist assures that health cannot be understood as analytical parameters alone. "Health is a global issue that includes physical health, the absence or improvement of disease. But health is also social, and other aspects, such as psychological and social aspects, have also improved with this challenge".

Dr. Mª Ángeles Prytz, a specialist in Diagnostic Imaging at the Hospiten Rambla University Hospital, explained that "with some exceptions, the loss of fat mass has not been excessive, but it has been important in the sense that visceral fat has been lost, fat has been redistributed better and fat mass has been lost without affecting muscle mass".

Juan José Hernández Rubio, president of Hospiten commented, "at Hospiten we firmly believe in the importance of taking care of those we care for. Promoting healthy lifestyle habits within our organization not only improves the physical health of our team, but also boosts their motivation, energy and emotional wellbeing. Projects such as the 180 Challenge reflect our commitment to a healthier, more humane and sustainable work environment. We are very proud of the effort and transformation of all participants."

The rector of the European University of the Canary Islands, Cristiana Oliveira, stressed that "collaborating with Hospiten in the Reto 180 is part of the academic philosophy of the European University, in which we encourage the participation of our professors and students in companies to grow in knowledge and experience, a methodology eminently practical, active and close to the profession." Oliveira also congratulated the women and men "who have initiated this challenge, because not only have you successfully completed it, but you have also confirmed the value for people, in particular, and for society in general, of committing to good health habits".

On a voluntary basis, during the 2nd Edition of The 180 Challenge, the participants have been able to see from the hand of specialists in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Diagnostic Imaging and Diagnostic and Endoluminal Therapeutics that it is possible to change and adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

The physical training guidelines were supervised by professors from the European University. Thanks to the collaboration of Ideco, with its Sports Complex of Tenerife Santa Cruz-Ofra and the Fitness Center RH, based in La Orotava, the participants have been able to develop their workouts.

Among the medical tests performed were blood tests, cardiological check-ups, densitometry or bioimpedance, with the aim of carrying out an exhaustive follow-up of the participants in order to analyze the control of muscle gain, fat loss or the detection of cardiovascular risks, among others.

Once again this year, this project, promoted by Hospiten, has the collaboration of the European University and the audiovisual production company Kikazaru, which was also in charge of documenting the whole process, providing its audiovisual perspective to reflect the impact and essence of each stage of the project.

José Alberto Hernández, CEO of Kikazaru 360, highlighted that "it is a great honor to participate in this type of projects that try to change lives. We are deeply motivated to create and work on initiatives that actively seek to improve people's lives and health. We are very grateful that they have trusted us from day one. That support and shared vision is what makes it possible for projects like this one to come to life and leave their mark".

Ideco, a public company of the Cabildo de Tenerife dedicated to the management of sports and leisure centers and programs, and the Fitness Center HR in La Orotava, joined in this second edition.

Hospiten's commitment remains present through actions that pursue a wellness ecosystem. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, with an estimated 17.9 million people dying each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

This article is an English translation generated with AI from the original Spanish content. While we review content for clarity, the information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment.