Today, the 2014 Scale Back Alabama kicked off! Scale Back Alabama is a 10‐week, statewide weight‐loss contest designed to help Alabama fight its battle with obesity by encouraging participants to develop lifelong healthy habits. The program, which is free and targeted to adults 18 and older, primarily focuses on the workplace and utilizes other local organizations as weigh-in sites. Here is a 25 minute video featuring State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson and Gina McDonald.
This year’s spokesperson is Gina McDonald, who was the winner of the last season of NBC’s The Biggest Loser! Gina fought obesity all of her life and was selected out of a field of over 300,000 applicants to be on The Biggest Loser. After losing more than 100 pounds and reversing her Type 2 diabetes, McDonald is leading the charge for Scale Back Alabama this year to let others know that anything is possible if you set realistic goals and stick to them.
She also encouraged participants to choose teammates who will be positive, and she stressed the importance of incorporating exercise into your daily routine, along with healthy eating. To enter the contest and be eligible for the cash-prize drawings, individuals must visit an official Scale Back Alabama weigh-in site during the week of January 18-24 to register and do their initial team weigh in. A list of sites is included at: http://www.scalebackalabama.com/
Here is something to consider! Approximately one-third of all Alabamians are considered obese. Obesity can lead to health problems such as increased risk of diseases, cancer, and heart disease, as well as problems with bones and joints. Obesity is also costly, with medical expenses for an obese employee estimated to be 42 percent higher than a person with a healthy weight. The annual health care cost estimate is as high as $147 billion a year. McDonald stated that losing just 10 pounds can make a big difference, and she promised to share her tips and experiences throughout the contest.
Last year 27,000 Alabamians participated in Scale Back and lost almost 130,000 pounds. To join the contest, you and your team can go to the weigh-in site nearest you during Weigh-In Week to register and get your starting weight. Registration takes place during Weigh-In Week only. There is no cost to participate in Scale Back Alabama. Find your nearest weigh-in site at: http://www.scalebackalabama.com/sites.html
Each team must be made up with four members, and each team must have a team captain and a catchy team name, there will be prizes for the best team names! Teams must begin and end the contest with the same members – no substitution is allowed. If a team member drops out for any reason, the team will be disqualified from the grand prize drawing. However, individuals who lose at least 10 pounds will be eligible for individual prizes. If all four team members each lose at least 10 pounds, the entire team will be entered into a drawing where the top prize is $1,000 for each team member. Prizes of $500, and $250, for each team member will also be rewarded!
Plus, 50 individuals, who at least lose 10 pounds, will win $100! To learn more about Scale Back Alabama, and get great tips and resources, go to: http://www.scalebackalabama.com/ Follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ScaleBackAlabama and on Twitter @ScaleBkAlabama.
Scale Back Alabama is sponsored by the Alabama Hospital Association and the Alabama Department of Public Health, with generous underwriting from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.
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