6,000 take advantage of free Ohio gym memberships

CLEVELAND (AP) — Here’s the skinny on a Cleveland Clinic offer of free gym memberships: the hospital says residents of Cleveland and the surrounding county lost 27,500 pounds.

That big number was mostly the result of big participation. About 6,000 people completed the three months of workouts provided through a campaign announced earlier this year by the Clinic, the Curves chain of women’s fitness centers, and the Greater Cleveland YMCA.

The average weight loss was less than four pounds.

Clinic officials say they’re pleased that so many people took part.

More than 14,000 people had gone to gyms to officially sign up for the program. The Clinic plans to survey those who did not see it through the end, to find out why.