OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- "Offutt's Biggest Loser" challenge, a 10-week weight loss competition kicked off Monday at the Health and Wellness Center with nearly 50 participants attending the first of three "WOW - Work on Wellness" classes to learn how to eat healthy, exercise properly and strategies for behavior change.

One hundred participants, divided into 25 teams, have enrolled in the program designed to help Team Offutt members improve fitness in a safe and supportive fashion.

"We're not just going to throw people out there and see how much weight they can lose," said Marcia Moseman, health and wellness dietitian at the HAWC. "We want to make losing some holiday pounds fun and educational."

Once the class is complete, the first weigh in will be held and teams will move on to fitness challenges every other week to monitor their progress and make the competition fun.

"The fitness challenges are designed for all fitness levels," said Master Sgt. Jesse Maes, 55th Services Squadron fitness and sports superintendent, emphasizing the idea is to keep people motivated, not to discourage them from working out.

The winners of the competition will be determined by the percent of weight lost during the entire competition, not by pounds lost.

Offutt's individual "Biggest Loser" will also have the chance to win a brand new Chevrolet HHR. To qualify for the chance to win the car, the individual winner will be determined by overall percentage of total weight lost. Prizes will be given to the team with the highest percentage of weight loss as well.