The state of Alabama will soon embark on a 5th annual effort to address obesity in a safe and fun way. It’s time for Scale Back Alabama — a 10-week challenge to Alabamians to lose one pound a week for 10 weeks, to earn a chance at cash prizes.

In Scale Back, four-person teams work toward losing 10 pounds during the 10-week program. If all team members lose at least 10 pounds, the team will be included in a drawing for one of three grand prizes: the 1st team drawn will get $1,000 per team member; the 2nd team will receive $500 each; and the 3rd team drawn gets $250 per member. If some team members lose 10 pounds but not all do, the individuals who lost 10 pounds will be included in a drawing for achievement awards. Fifty people will receive awards of $100.

In addition, there will be a separate drawing for all individuals who have lost any weight at the end of the 10-week period and make the time to weigh out.

Statewide, weigh-in week is January 21-27 and weigh-out will be April 7-13.

GRMC will serve as a public weigh-in site, as it has in each year of the contest. Weigh-in at GRMC will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. January 26, in the Mirror Room. Weigh-out will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 12.

Enrolling in the contest is free, so participants have nothing to lose but their love handles. Last year, approximately 33,000 Alabamians took part and lost a total of 143,309 pounds, according to the Scale Back Alabama Web site. At GRMC, 69 teams signed up and weighed in last year. Not all came back for the weigh-out in April, but the ones who did lost a combined total of more than 1,200 pounds.

The contest is sponsored by Alabama’s hospitals, the Alabama Department of Public Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

Organizers hope this year’s campaign will reach even more Alabamians and encourage them to adopt healthier lifestyles and significantly improve their health.

As with last year, there will also be a contest to select the top team name, with the winner announced March 20. It’s time now to organize your four-person teams, come up with the most clever name to represent your team and take the first steps toward a healthier new you for the New Year.