OXFORD – Another series of “Weight Watchers at the Workplace” is slated to jump start at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Oxford Academy Central School.

According to Oxford Academy’s Food Service Manager Liz O’Rourke, this is a program open not only to school employees, but also to interested community members.

Oxford Academy employees and area residents participated in the same program in January 2013, which ran for 17 weeks, said O”Rourke. A 12-week session was also held throughout the summer.

“Between these two, the group has lost a total of 330 pounds and we have had five members reach their lifetime membership, and two members are at their healthy weight,” O’Rourke added.

The organizers of Oxford’s program would like to have at least 20 individuals sign up to participate. With 20 or more members, the program can run for another 17 weeks which will bring participants through January.

According to Weight Watchers, there are five reasons Weight Watchers at the Workplace works: convenience and flexibility, ideas customized to the workplace to help participants lose weights, motivation with co-workers, a healthier environment that helps promote success, and it can work for both men and women.

Weight Watchers statistics suggest people following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose one to two pounds per week.

“While the worksite environment can contribute to weight gain, excess weight itself has a negative financial impact in the workplace. The medical costs for obese patients are approximately 30 percent greater than costs for normal weight individuals,” wrote D. Withrow and D.A. Alter in their book, “The Economic Burden of Obesity Worldwide: A Systematic Review of the Direct Costs of Obesity.”