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May 23, 2013 | 02:45 pm

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Overweight-only gym fosters supportive atmosphere

LM Otero

Ellen Hays

Ellen Hays works out during a morning exercise class at a gym in Addison, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Downsize Fitness is a selective gym where the rule is that new members must tip the scales. New members are weighed and have their body mass index measured. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero

Overweight Only Gyms

A gym member arrives for a morning exercise class at Downsize Fitness Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Addison, Texas. Downsize Fitness is a selective gym where the rule is that new members must tip the scales. New members are weighed and have their body mass index measured. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero

Ellen Hays, Krisanne Hale

Personal trainer Krisaane Hale, right, weights Ellen Hays for a body mass index reading before working out in a morning exercise class at the Downsize Fitness gym in Addison, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Downsize Fitness is a selective gym where the rule is that new members must tip the scales. New members are weighed and have their body mass index measured. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero

Ellen Hays, Krisanne Hale

Personal trainer Krisaane Hale, bottom, measures Ellen Hays for body mass index reading before working out in a morning exercise class at the Downsize Fitness gym in Addison, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. Downsize Fitness is a selective gym where the rule is that new members must tip the scales. New members are weighed and have their body mass index measured. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero

Overweight Only Gyms

Gym members use as treadmill to warm up for a morning exercise class at Downsize Fitness Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Addison, Texas. Downsize Fitness is a selective gym where the rule is that new members must tip the scales. New members are weighed and have their body mass index measured. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero

Overweight Only Gyms

A trainer runs a morning exercise class at Downsize Fitness Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Addison, Texas. Downsize Fitness is a selective gym where the rule is that new members must tip the scales. New members are weighed and have their body mass index measured. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Teresa Crawford

Francis Wisniewski

In this Dec 6, 2012 photo, Downsize Fitness founder Francis Wisniewski is seen at one of his gyms in Chicago. The gym chain he started caters exclusively to people who want to lose at least 50 pounds. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)