Wellness program helps residents start new year on the right foot

Cleveland Clinic teamed up with the City of Bay Village and several community partners to offer a new community outreach and wellness program called “Be Fit in Bay.”

Part of Cleveland Clinic’s healthy communities initiative, the goal of the new program was to promote optimal health and wellness and positively impact the community through education and awareness. “Be Fit in Bay” was created as a result of the community health needs assessment, combining resources within the Bay Village community to target education, nutrition and physical activity.

More than 100 people registered to participate in late September, attending eight weekly health talks and walking sessions every Tuesday night at Bay High School. Before and after results were tracked during the initiative.

The winners were: Paul Langer, first place; Judy Skully, second; and Joe Talaba and Laurie Boylan, tied for third.

All told, residents logged more than 60,500 minutes of exercise altogether, and as a result, lost more than 120 pounds and dropped 365 total cholesterol points decreasing their risk of heart disease.

“Be Fit in Bay” is a collaborative effort between Cleveland Clinic and several community partners, including Bay Presbyterian Church, Bay Village City Schools, Heinen’s, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, O’Neill Healthcare, Walgreen’s, and Perfect Fit Health Club.

Bay Village Mayor Deborah Sutherland attended the weekly sessions and congratulated the winners on their new lifestyles.

Plans for the 2015 “Be Fit in Bay” program are underway. For more information, please call 440-356-4362.

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Volume 7, Issue 2, Posted 9:58 AM, 01.20.2015