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Healthy Huntsville Team Kicks Off 2017 with Scale Back Alabama

Published on January 13, 2017

Healthy Huntsville is gearing up for another year of fitness and nutrition to help citizens live a healthier life. From now through March 15, Healthy Huntsville is promoting Scale Back Alabama through a series of events at the City’s Parks & Recreation centers.

Scale Back Alabama is a free, statewide weight-loss program designed to help Alabamians eat less and move more. The goal is to lose at least ten pounds in eight weeks, and to make the process as fun and easy as possible.

“Since the program began eleven years ago, Alabamians have lost more than 1.3 million pounds in the annual ten-week-long campaign, said Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers. “Huntsville Hospital is pleased to continue supporting this effort along with the City of Huntsville and the Healthy Huntsville initiative.”

It’s easy to participate. Establish a team of two, register, complete your first weekly weigh-in, and start your weight loss journey. Mayor Tommy Battle and City Attorney Trey Riley have formed the “Hefty Boyz” team and are challenging citizens to team up, too!

“The Scale Back program was the catalyst behind my habit of taking a brisk daily walk,” said Mayor Battle. “I feel better and have more energy and that helps me meet the demands of my day.”

Healthy Huntsville will share numerous diet and exercise tips through its Healthy Huntsville Facebook page, as well as tips from Scale Back Alabama. The team will also help participants navigate the plethora of free classes, activities, athletics and events offered through Parks & Recreation to stay active.

Initial weigh-ins begin today through Wednesday, Jan. 18. The Madison County Health Department and Huntsville Hospital Wellness Centers are weigh-in sites along with the Dr. Richard Showers Sr. Recreation Center and the Optimist Recreation Center.

“Now that the holidays are over, many of us are making resolutions to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and this program is a terrific way to have fun and stay motivated while improving your health,” said Dr. Scott Harris, Assistant State Health Officer. “The Madison County Health Department is excited to promote Scale Back Alabama as part of the Healthy Huntsville initiative, and encourage everyone in Huntsville and Madison County to join us.”

If fitness isn’t enough to motivate participants, Scale Back Alabama is also awarding cash prizes.

Team Prizes

  • To be eligible for team prizes, each team member must lose at least 10 pounds during the 10-week contest, as recorded by a coordinator at an official Scale Back Alabama weigh-in site.
  • Winning teams are determined by a random drawing from all eligible teams.
  • The first 3 teams drawn win $1,000 per team member, or a total of $2,000 for the entire team.
  • The second 3 teams drawn win $500 per team member, or a total of $1,000 for the entire team.
  • The final 3 teams drawn win $250 per team member, or a total of $500 for the entire team.

Individual Prizes

  • All individuals who lose at least 10 pounds, as recorded by a coordinator at an official Scale Back Alabama weigh-in site, are eligible for an individual prize, regardless of their team’s achievement. However, individuals that are drawn for a team prize are not eligible to win the individual prizes.
  • From the pool of eligible contestants, 40 individuals drawn win one of 40 achievement prizes of $100 per person.
  • The individual prize drawings are conducted following the April 29 webcast announcing team prizes and are posted on the Scale Back Alabama website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the webcast.

To learn more about Scale Back Alabama visit scalebackalabama.com. To keep up with activities and events, visit facebook.com/healthyhuntsville.


Led by Mayor Tommy Battle and the City’s Parks & Recreation Department, Healthy Huntsville is sponsored by the following non-profit organizations:  City of Huntsville, Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville City Schools, HudsonAlpha, and the Huntsville-Madison County Health Department. These organizations are working with the community to offer free programs throughout the year to help educate our citizens on wellness and good physical health.