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Medifast Outperforms American Diabetes Association Diet By Twice The
Weight Loss According To Published Study
Study showing Medifast's effectiveness in patients with type 2 diabetes
published in 'The Diabetes Educator'
OWINGS MILLS, Md., February 11, 2008- /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 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.
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."
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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.
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