By making changes to his diet and starting an exercise program, RUBEN STUDDARD dropped almost 100 pounds over the summer -- now the signer wants to help others lose weight, too.

The Birmingham native has joined Scale Back Alabama, an eight-week weight-loss initiative that seeks to encourage the 25 percent of the residents in his home state who are obese to lose 10 pounds during the span of the campaign.

Scale Back Alabama begins on January 4 with an event that will feature the "American Idol" star. The campaign is being sponsored by Alabama hospitals, the Alabama Department of Public Health and Barber's Dairies.

Ruben told the AP 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," he added. "I went to this place called Duke Diet and Fitness Center for a month and learned how to change my eating habits."