1. The Biggest Loser Competition is meant to be a competition between places of employment. The target team size is 6 individuals. If there are less than 6 on a team, the poorest performing member of the team will have his/her statistics doubled (or tripled). The absolute minimum for a team is 4 people. The maximum is 10. Each person’s weight and participation is confidential. Results will be posted by team ONLY.
2. We strongly recommend that you get your doctor’s permission to participate in this program. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. Individuals with a pacemaker cannot be weighed by our electronic scales. Due to the way the scales measure body fat it may interfere with the device. Make sure we know if you have a pacemaker. We can make arrangements to have you weighed without measuring body fat. Postpartum women must have a physician’s release and be at least six weeks postpartum.
3. Cost is $25/individual. Check with your employer—most of the cost of participation could be covered by your company. The money we receive goes to supporting a person to go to your site to do weigh-ins and helps support our DREAM healthy lifestyles program.
4. Once on a team, you will be part of their statistics until the end. You cannot “quit”. If you do drop out, your last statistics will follow you until the end of the competition.
Scales will be at your place of work once every two weeks. If you miss the initial weigh-in, and can’t get to the Health Department to weigh in by the end of the first weigh-in week, you will not be on a team. If you miss other weigh-ins, the statistics from the last time you weighed in will be used.
For the final weigh-in, Thursday will be the last chance to catch up for those who missed their scheduled final weigh-in.
7. Because of the way our scales measure body fat, you will need to remove your socks when you are weighed.
8. The winner will be determined by the team that has the largest percentage of weight lost. This is calculated by taking the beginning weight, subtracting the final weight, dividing by the beginning weight, and multiplying by 100. It is very possible that the trophy may not go to the team that loses the most weight. By using percentage of weight loss, teams that weigh less are not at a disadvantage.
9. “The Loser’s Cup” trophy will be on display at the place of employment of the #1 team. It is a rotating trophy and will have the team names of current and past winners on it. Certificates will be given to the members of the top three teams.
10. Your company must have a coordinator for the Biggest Loser competition. Updates and tips will be emailed to this individual and it will be his/her responsibility to make sure the people competing receive the information. It will also be this person’s responsibility to schedule weigh-in times with the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department. Finally, it will also be the coordinator's responsibility to provide the Health Department with a list of the teams and participants at least two days before the initial weigh-in. An active coordinator can really benefit the teams involved.
Tips
Successful teams often have internal competitions. Anything you can do to keep pressure on your team members, especially in a fun way, is beneficial.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department offers its DREAM program to help those interested in more than weight loss. It is free healthy-lifestyles program that helps you make lifestyle changes to keep the weight off. It focuses on nutrition and activity in addition to weight. We will have informational brochures about DREAM available at the weigh-ins.
You will be supplied with a ticket that will have a lot of information on it such as your BMI, Fat Mass, and more. Often, when starting an exercise routine, fat mass decreases and muscle mass increases. Because fat weighs less, this ticket can be used to help maintain your motivation if results of your efforts do not immediately show up on the scales.
If you have any questions, call Stephanie Rummer at 1.888.550.6797 ext: 182
Fax: 304.485.7494 Email: Stephanie.K.Rummer@wv.gov