Medifast Outperforms American Diabetes Association Diet by Twice the Weight
Loss According to Published Study
'The Diabetes Educator' published study showing Medifast's effectiveness in
patients with type 2 diabetes
OWINGS MILLS, Md., Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Medifast, Inc.
(NYSE: MED) today announced that a study conducted by researchers at the Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, showing the Medifast
Program outperforms the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended diet
for patients with type 2 diabetes, has been published in the January/February
issue of 'The Diabetes Educator'. The peer-reviewed journal is the official
journal of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
The examiner of the study from Johns Hopkins University submitted the
study and informed Medifast that the study has been published in the most
appropriate venue to help train diabetes educators about the effectiveness of
Medifast Meal Replacements in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The study was
finalized for publication within the last 12 months after being presented to
physicians and scholars attending the American Diabetes Association Convention
in 2005.
"This study is one of many that validate the efficacy of Medifast Meal
Replacements in the clinical setting," said Brad MacDonald, Chairman of the
Board, Medifast, Inc. "Medifast continues to invest in the research and
development of its products and programs to ensure that our claims to
consumers are the most documented and credible in the industry."
In the study, the Medifast Program outperformed the ADA recommended diet
in weight loss, adherence and biochemical outcomes. These findings suggest a
re-evaluation of the ADA recommendation, which currently does not promote
portion-controlled meal replacement programs in weight loss and weight
maintenance for individuals with diabetes, is warranted. The study can be
found at http://www.medifast1.com/weightloss/diabetes_study.asp
The results of the study also suggest that meal replacements may achieve
the same outcomes in diabetics as bariatric surgery (though over the longer
term), while mitigating the increased risk of morbidity and mortality
associated with these more dangerous treatment approaches.
"A close friend of mine had some serious complications because of type 2
diabetes and it scared me to death," said Medifast client Steven Eldridge, of
Raytown, MO. "I was suffering from the disease myself and decided to consult
my doctor. He said the best thing I could do is to lose the weight, and that's
when I found Medifast. I lost 114 pounds in 5 months on the Medifast Program
and am totally off my diabetes medication for the first time in 6 years, which
is an absolute miracle, and I have Medifast to thank!"
The study compared Medifast's effectiveness for weight control in people
with type 2 diabetes to the standard ADA recommended dietary guidelines. The
study enlisted 112 overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes using two
weight loss approaches of equal caloric prescription - the Medifast Program
and a traditional reduced-calorie diet based on the ADA recommended dietary
guidelines.
According to the results, participants randomized to receive Medifast lost
twice as much weight and were twice as compliant with the diet as participants
following the standard ADA diet. Approximately 40 percent of the Medifast
participants lost greater than 5 percent of their initial weight, compared
with 12 percent of those on the standard ADA diet. Additionally, 24 percent of
the Medifast users decreased or eliminated their diabetes medication, compared
to 0 percent on the standard ADA diet.
"We know that people with type 2 diabetes have a harder time losing weight
than people without diabetes; thus, finding an approach that works better than
other approaches is important," says Lawrence Cheskin, M.D. F.A.C.P., director
of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center and principal investigator of
the study. "This controlled study found that a diet using portion-controlled
meal replacements yielded better weight control and compliance in obese people
with diabetes than prescribing standard ADA dietary recommendations."
Medifast will continually participate in studies in the future, which will
add even more credibility to the Medifast Brand and Programs. For more than 25
years Medifast has been prescribed by practitioners as a safe and effective
program that yields significant results and has been proven to provide
significant weight loss of 2-5 pounds per week.
"Over 15,000 physicians have recommended Medifast since 1980 and millions
of consumers have realized the health and wellness benefit of our program,"
says Michael S. McDevitt, Chief Executive Officer, Medifast, Inc. "The
publication of this study adds to Medifast's already stellar reputation in the
medical community."
MED-G
About Medifast:
Medifast (NYSE: MED) is the leading easy-to-use, clinically proven
portion-controlled weight loss program. Medifast has been recommended by
15,000 physicians and used by over one million customers. It is committed to
enriching lives by providing innovative choices for lasting health. Medifast
programs have been proven effective through studies by major university
teaching hospitals. The company sells its products and programs via four
unique distribution channels: 1) the web and national call centers, 2)
national network of physicians, 3) medically supervised Medifast Weight
Control Centers and 4) the Take Shape For Life direct-selling division, a
network of health coaches. Medifast was founded in 1980 and is located in
Owings Mills, Maryland. For more information log onto www.ChooseMedifast.com.
Please Note: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can
be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as "intend" or other
similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of
Medifast's objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein
are also considered forward-looking statements. Medifast believes this release
should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these
forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks,
uncertainties, and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others,
Medifast's inability to attract and retain independent Associates and Members,
stability in the pricing of print, TV and Direct Mail marketing initiatives
affecting the cost to acquire customers, increases in competition, litigation,
regulatory changes, and its planned growth into new domestic and international
markets and new channels of distribution. Although Medifast's believes that
the expectations, statements, and assumptions reflected in these forward-
looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all
of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in
evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those
set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the
forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this
release.
SOURCE Medifast, Inc.
Brian Gleason of Medifast, Inc., +1-410-504-8260, bgleason@choosemedifast.com
