Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health Find Meal Replacement More
Effective for Weight Loss and Reduction in
Diabetic Medication Than Standard Food Diet -
Participants using Medifast lost twice as much
weight and were twice as likely to complete both
phases of the study compared with those
following a diet based on the American Diabetes
Association dietary guidelines.
OWINGS MILLS, Md., June 13, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health released the results of
an 86-week diabetic weight loss study that found
participants using Medifast's
portion-controlled, meal replacement program
lost twice as much weight and were twice as
likely to complete the study as participants
following a standard food diet based on the
dietary guidelines of the American Diabetes
Association (ADA). Additionally, 24 percent of
the Medifast users decreased or eliminated their
diabetes medication, compared to 0 percent on
the standard food diet.
The study, "Long-Term Efficacy of 2 Diet Plans
for Type 2 Diabetes on Weight Loss and Weight
Maintenance," was officially presented by Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Associate Professor Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin,
M.D., during the American Diabetes Association's
65th Annual Scientific Session in San Diego this
past weekend.
Dr. Cheskin's study enlisted 112 overweight or
obese people with type 2 diabetes using two
weight loss approaches of equal caloric
prescription - a portion-controlled,
supplement-based diet (Medifast) and a
traditional reduced-calorie diet based on the
ADA's recommended dietary guidelines. The study
tracked the participants' progress over 86 weeks
(approximately a year and eight months),
including an initial weight loss period of 34
weeks, followed by a 52-week maintenance phase.
"Weight loss is critical for controlling type 2
diabetes, but individuals with the disease are
faced with health issues that make it
significantly more difficult to lose weight than
people without the disease," explained Dr.
Cheskin. "While type 2 diabetes cannot be cured,
losing weight can significantly improve one's
quality of life by reducing or even eliminating
the need for daily medication and/or frequent
treatment. People with type 2 diabetes are in
need of weight control options they can commit
to long term."
According to the results, the Medifast group
lost twice as much weight and was twice as
likely to complete the study as the group on the
standard food diet. Of patients completing the
initial weight loss phase (34 weeks), average
weight loss was 16 pounds on Medifast and 8.1
pounds on the standard diet. After completing
the additional 52-week maintenance period,
average weight loss after 86 weeks was 13 pounds
for those who received Medifast in Maintenance
vs. 5.3 pounds on the standard diet. Also, 44
percent of the Medifast participants maintained
more than a five percent body weight loss vs.
only 14 percent on the standard diet.
"There is no room for miscalculating portions
when using portion- controlled foods, which
might explain in part why participants on
Medifast achieved superior weight loss results
and demonstrated significantly better completion
rates," added Dr. Cheskin. "In addition, meal
replacements are easy to follow and require less
effort, which is why they can be an effective
weight loss option for many people in serious
need of losing weight."
A crucial finding was a significant drop in
diabetes medication intake for the Medifast
group. After the 34-week weight loss phase, 24
percent of the Medifast participants either
decreased or eliminated their diabetes
medication.
None of the participants on the standard food
diet could say the same.
"The difference in diabetes medication intake
between the two diets reflects that Medifast was
significantly more effective at helping to
control type 2 diabetes than a standard food
diet," explained Dr. Cheskin.
Brad MacDonald, CEO of Medifast, Inc., states,
"This study reinforces the fact that with
Medifast, people not only lose weight, but their
health improves as well."
Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D., F.A.C.P., is a
board-certified internist and Associate
Professor of Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is the
director and founder of the Johns Hopkins Weight
Management Center. He is also the principal
investigator on a number of research grants and
is a frequent contributor to research and
popular articles on weight management.
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