Weight loss formula for an office contest?

[four26stroker]

I wanted to try a Biggest Loser style contest at work. I was wondering what kind of mathmatic formula I could use to make it fare. I looked at the TV shows site and (without joining) the info I'm looking for is not available. How would you make it equal to lose 50lbs compaired to someone needing to loose 20lbs to meet their medical weight? Would the overall % be higher on the individual who needs to lose less weight? Should people that need to drop 20lbs or more only play? I should be able to figure this out the motor is in park today.

[ThumperTDC]

Can't you take everyones weight before and then take the lightest person and then take the amount of weight they are going to lose and then figure out what percentage of body weight that would be and then use that percentage for everyone else......................if that makes any sense.

[JDRYDER]

They are doing the same thing at my work just a little different. Everybody has to put in $200 into the pot. The goal is to lose 10% of your body weight. The people that lose 10% of their body weight devide the money in the pot equally between them all. Losers do not get anything. If nobody loses 10% of their body weight all the money in the pot will be donated to a diabetes charity. They had 15 people join so its a nice pot.

[four26stroker]

Thats what I'm getting at TDC. Do I use the slimmer person as the base for the formula? The % of weight harder for someone 15lbs out of shape to lose as someone who is 70lbs over weight? I would like everyone the chance to join in. I just don't want an easy win to take it. This is why I may make the contest for those that need to lose 20lbs or more. I was thinking of using the National adverage to base all the goal weights too. Yeah I still can play at the 20lb cut off nothing to brag about, I know.

[ThumperTDC]

I kinda like Jdryder's idea about using a % of body weight. That way it keeps it fair. and then figure out how much each person has to drop to meet that percentage.

[yz250guy]

Figure out how much each person needs to lose in order to be at their "ideal" body weight. Calculate the difference between current body weight and goal body weight. Now you should have a number like 50 lbs. When the contest is over, calculate what percentage of of that number was lost.

Example:

current weight is 200 lbs
goal weight is 150 lbs

Goal to lose: 50 lbs

Actual lost: 25 lbs or 50% of goal.

the down side is that those with more to lose will have less time to lose it compared to someone with less weight to lose. For example, someone who needs to lose 100 lbs vs someone who needs to lose 50 lbs will have a much harder time losing twice as much weight in the same amount of time.

[four26stroker]

TDC I think your right about JD's idea. JD your the man! Your idea is a much better diet contest. I think that a % loss will alow more people to get involved. I don't need to do individual math on each person. The goal will already be calcuated at the 1st weigh in. Plus, I only need to put the person on the scale in the begining and the end. I like keeping it simple without eating up personal time.... Thanks for the help!