BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The scales of American Idol may have tipped in Ruben Studdard's favour in 2003, but there are other scales he would like to tip a bit less.After shedding almost 100 pounds, the Birmingham native and American Idol>winner says he wants to help other residents of Alabama to lose weight.

He's asking the 25 percent of the state's residents who are obese to lose ten pounds in eight weeks — a total of ten million pounds.

Since committing to a weight-loss programme this summer, Studdard has lost nearly 100 pounds, started eating healthier and begun exercising, according to a news release announcing the programme.

"I'm not where I want to be, but I'm on the right track, and I'm excited about encouraging other Alabamians to begin their own weight-loss journeys," said the 28-year-old singer, whose third album, The Retu$>, was released in October by J Records.

Studdard said that he wanted to get in shape "because I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure and things of that nature".

"I felt like it was necessary for me to combat those issues at a young age before it became a bigger issue. I went to this place called Duke Diet and Fitness Centre for a month and learned how to change my eating habits."