Another year of Scale Back Alabama, the state’s largest weight loss and physical activity competition will begin, Monday, Jan. 22 and four weigh-in sites have already been established in Elmore County.
Teams can register now for Scale Back Alabama. The competition is free, and participants must be at least 18 years of age and live or work in Alabama. Teams and individuals who weigh-out during the week of April 2-8 and succeed in losing at least 10 pounds qualify to win a share of $14,500 in cash prizes. Teams are made up of two people (no more, no less).
Healthy weight loss is encouraged, said Pam Sparks of the Alabama Hospital Association.
“We send out tips on healthy weight loss weekly to all the participants,” Sparks said. “And we encourage small lifestyle chances like parking further away from your building, taking the stairs and portion control.”
Sparks said it’s always smart for participants to consult with a physician .
“All the participants should talk to their doctor first if they’re going to start a dieting program. That’s just a smart thing to do if you’re going to really go after it.”
To register a two-person team:
- Visit scalebackalabama.com/project/register or via the Scale Back Alabama app (only one registration per team of two)
- If possible, print your registration confirmation page
- Visit an official public weigh-in location during the week of Jan. 22 – 28 (take registration confirmation with you)
Currently, Elmore County has weigh in sites at Community Hospital, 805 Friendship Road in Tallassee; Creed Gym, 223 Hill St. in Wetumpka; Elmore County High School,155 N. College Ave. in Eclectic; and Millbrook Middle School, 4228 Chapman Road in Millbrook.
If you don’t see a weigh-in location convenient for you, search for additional public weigh-in sites at scalebackalabama.com/sites. Weigh-in sites are still being added, so check back frequently.
If both team members lose at least 10 pounds, they are eligible for team prizes. Three teams are drawn to win $1,000 per team member, three are drawn to win $500 per team member and three more are drawn to win $250 per team member.
If a team member loses 10 pounds or more, but his or her team mate does no he or she may be one of 40 individuals to have their names drawn to win $100 each.
Scale Back Alabama, beginning its 12th consecutive year, started in Jan. 2007. In those 12 years, 317,372 participants have lost a cumulative total of 1.35 million pounds.
Although Alabama has made progress, it remains third in the nation in terms of adult obesity with a rate of 35.7 percent. A variety of health issues result from and are compounded by being overweight or obese.
Scale Back Alabama is a public awareness campaign hosted by the Alabama Hospital Association and the Alabama Department of Public Health with support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.