Statewide weight-loss contest enters fourth year

TUSCALOOSA | West Alabama residents are gearing up to slim down by taking part in Scale Back Alabama, a 10-week weight-loss competition.

The program is in its fourth year. Its goal is to encourage all Alabamians to lose weight and exercise regularly while having fun doing it.

Mike Bishop, local coordinator of the nonprofit group Take Off Pounds Sensibly — which offers free tips, healthy recipes and support for those trying to lose weight and keep it off — said the organization fully supports Scale Back Alabama because it affects so many overweight people.

“It’s a thing to help the people,” Bishop said. “If you go to Walmart and look around, people live a laid-back lifestyle, and it shows.”

Participants can compete individually or in teams of four. They have until Jan. 29 to register and have their starting weights recorded.

Tuscaloosa-area participants can choose one of three places to register: the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, Hillcrest High School and NorthRidge Fitness. The site where participants register is also where they must weigh in each week.

Participants must weigh each week until April 28, when winning teams and individuals will be announced.

There is no charge for registering, but to be eligible for prizes, every team member must lose at least 10 pounds. Qualifying teams will be entered into a random drawing, and the winning team will receive $4,000.

Fifty individual winners will be drawn randomly and receive $100 prizes. The Alabama Department of Public Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Barber’s Dairy are donating the prize money.

Working as a team is a better motivational tool than trying to lose weight individually, Bishop said.

“They give you a little more support and pat you on the back,” he said.

Bishop has some experience with weight loss and motivation. He’s lost 150 pounds since retiring.

“I used to be able to tear a buffet up,” he said, chuckling.

According to the Alabama Department of Health, participation in the campaign has risen each year since it started, reaching 40,000 contestants in 2009. During the past four years, contestants have lost a cumulative 500,000 pounds.

“It makes you better, and it’s possible to win some money,” Bishop said. “It’s like going to a casino except you can’t lose anything except excess weight.”