Weight Watchers kick-starts freebie for 2,000 people

Michigan consumers who made a New Year's resolution to get a few pounds off can get a free taste of Weight Watchers as part of a promotion launched Tuesday.

Florine Mark, president and CEO of the Farmington Hills-based WW Group Inc., said she is offering up to 2,000 people in Michigan the chance to get one month free at Weight Watchers. The offer includes access to meetings and Weight Watchers e-Tools.

"It's straight-out free," Mark said in a phone interview Tuesday.

The offer is open to the first 2,000 people who sign up. Consumers can call 888-335-6746 or go online to www.8883florine.com or go directly to www.eatyourbest.com/freemonth.

The free meetings for one month are valued at $52 and eTools is valued at $20.

The offer is not valid for current members.

Mark, who has lost and kept off 50 pounds for 35 years, said she wants to encourage people who have been sitting on the sidelines or maybe just counting calories with an app to actively make a move toward losing weight. She often stresses that if overweight people lose 10% of their weight, they'd see changes in the way they feel and see improved aspects of their health.

Mark acknowledged that Weight Watchers isn't getting a lot of new people or some previous members returning to the program. She's not sure what's happening in Michigan, where she sees plenty of overweight people in stores.

"I want Michigan to be the healthiest state in the union," Mark said.

Mark is the largest franchise holder of Weight Watchers International, currently operating meetings in regions throughout Michigan and northern Ontario. Some of the other franchises that she had run were sold in 2003 in a deal to Weight Watchers International.

Mark serves on Gov. Rick Snyder's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports.

"We'll do anything we can to help Michigan get fit," she said.

Contact Susan Tompor: 313-222-8876 or stompor@freepress.com.