Scale Back Alabama (SBA) is a free statewide weight-loss program designed to encourage Alabamians to get healthy and to have fun while doing it.

Since the first competition, Alabamians have lost more than one million pounds. Scale Back Alabama is designed to address the state’s challenge with obesity. Scale Back Alabama is free, lasts 10 weeks and is open to teams of four from families, municipalities, businesses, clubs, or neighborhood groups. 

Since this year is the 10th Anniversary, Scale Back Alabama has several new and exciting things in store for participants. A brand new Scale Back Alabama App will be available for free in the App Store & on Google Play starting in January. As part of the tenth anniversary, they are also attempting to get in the Guinness Book of World Record by having the most people on one scale.

Participants must weigh in between Jan. 25 and Jan. 31 to be eligible. Teams consist of two people. The competition ends the week of April 11 with final weigh-ins. Winning teams are eligible to cash prizes. To be eligible for prizes, each team member must lose 10 pounds. 

“Scale Back Alabama is a great way to kick-start your weight loss,” said Nate Lami, City of Fairhope Recreation Center Coordinator. "We hope by the City’s Recreation Center participating in this program it will encourage residents to participate and do what they can to improve their health by losing weight and exercising. Last year as part of this program, we began opening the indoor walking track at the Rec Center to the public, free of charge and it has been very successful. The indoor walking track allows residents a safe place to walk even when it is raining, too cold or too hot.”

“We already have some good programs and facilities in place in Fairhope to make this easy for folks: the city Rec Center, the Get Fit Fairhope program, many privately owned gyms and wellness centers and good walking and biking tracks and trails,” said Mayor Tim Kant. “I have encouraged our employees to participate in both Get Fit Fairhope and Scaleback Alabama and hope our community will, too.”

The Recreation Center is located on Greeno Road and open Monday – Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. To register or learn more, visit www.scalebackalabama.com or call Nate Lami at the Fairhope Recreation Center at 251-928-7270 or stop by.