HEALTH: Leviton worker wins as biggest loser: 71 pounds

Dan Perlowitz is one of the biggest losers at Leviton Manufacturing in Melville. And he's proud of it. So are his co-workers.

That's because Perlowitz, 48, a systems analyst at the electrical manufacturer, shed the most pounds in a weight-losing contest Leviton held earlier this year as part of its ongoing wellness programs.

Perlowitz, who is 5-foot-7, lost 71 pounds, going from 228 in September to 157, after a 7 1/2-month diet and exercise program encouraged by the company and some other employees who took part in round one of Leviton's Biggest Loser program. He walked away with a $200 gift certificate.

Another Leviton employee, Steve Rabinowitz, a claims rep, was the biggest loser in a second round, shedding 50.6 pounds, or 20.46 percent of his total body weight.

Leviton encourages wellness, said senior director of benefits and compensation Fran Ruderman. Initially, she said, some employees took part because they thought the company might look askance at them if they did not. But now, she said, they know "they're not doing it for us. They're doing it for themselves."

Perlowitz said he has six kids, and he wants to see them grow up. "I want to be around for a wedding or two," he said.