The challenge is on for Alabama residents as the Scale Back Alabama enters its sixth year. Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital employees and area residents are gearing up for a little fun, healthy competition.

“The response to this program is always wonderful,” said coordinator Betsy Adams. “The classes are well attended and many of those who participate each year have maintained their weight loss and become much more active. This is a fun way to kick off the year resolving to live a healthier lifestyle.”

This is the sixth year that BWWMH has joined other Alabama hospitals and the Alabama Department of Public Health in challenging overweight Alabamians to make a New Year’s resolution to scale back.

The 10-week program includes weight-loss classes and a healthy competition among teams of four people who hold each other accountable for “sticking to” their diets and exercise routines.

The event kicks off locally with free health screenings at BWWMH on Friday, January 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby. Employees from the organization’s GROWestAL Division and Wellness Center will be offering screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and BMI. “This is the perfect time to get a gauge of where you are and what you need to do,” said Adams, “we won’t be signing up teams on that day but will begin on the next.”

Sign-up dates are January 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and January 23-27 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Team captain packets are available from Adams in the Wellness Center. With thousands of dollars up for grabs in the statewide contest, competition will be fierce. For every team member who completes the contest and loses at least 10 pounds, his/her name will be placed in a drawing for one of 50 state prizes of $100 each. For every team that completes the 10-week program, with each team member losing at least 10 pounds, the team name will be placed in a drawing for one of three grand prizes. The first team drawn will win $250 per team member, the second team drawn will win $500 each, and the third team drawn will win $1,000 each. And, for everyone who loses at least one pound and weighs out, there will be a drawing for five participation prizes of $50 each.

On the local level, door prizes and special prizes will be given at the weekly meetings at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital along with great weight loss/nutrition tips. You must be present at these meetings to win door prizes.

Weekly meetings will be held each Tuesday during the 10 weeks at noon for employees and again at 6 p.m. for employees and the general public. Meetings will be brief, no more than 30 minutes, so that participants can attend during their lunch breaks.

“No one will know your weight, or even your team’s weight, except the team captain,” Adams said. The captain will get everyone’s weight and total them for the collective team weight which is sent by email to the Scale Back Alabama website. The totals are not posted for anyone to see.

For more information, contact the Wellness Center at 334-287-2613.