Medifast
• Approach/Method: Medifast is a physician-supervised
very low-calorie diet program of fortified meal replacements
providing 450-500 calories per day. Lifestyles–the Medifast
Program of Patient Support®–prepares patients to maintain their
goal weight after completing the very low-calorie diet.
Medifast also provides a low-calorie diet of approximately
860 calories/day for those not on the very low-calorie diet.
Medifast also offers Take Shape, a product line that can be
used as part of a weight-loss (1200–1500 kcal per day) or
weight maintenance program. The Take Shape program does not
require medical supervision.
• Clients: The following people cannot enroll in the
very low-calorie diet
program: those who are not at least 30 percent above ideal
body weight, those who have not reached sexual and physical
maturation, pregnant and lactating women, recent
cerebrovascular accident, and those with conditions such as
bulimia, unstable angina, insulin-dependent diabetes,
thrombophlebitis, active cancer, or uncompensated renal or
hepatic disease.
• Staff: The program is supervised by a physician. At
the corporate level, a medical advisory board of MDs, PhDs,
and RDs is consulted on program and product development.
• Expected Weight Loss/Length of Program: The
physician and patient determine the goal weight. Weight loss
varies with the individual; average weight loss is three to
five pounds per week. The weight-loss phase lasts 16 weeks,
and realimentation (transition to regular foods) lasts six
weeks. Maintenance is strongly encouraged for up to one
year.
• Cost: Cost for office visits, laboratory tests, and
Medifast products vary by individual physician. The cost of
Medifast-70, a VLCD, during the weight-loss phase is $20 per
week for program fees plus any necessary laboratory fees and
$45–$65 per week for product. There is no fee for the
maintenance booklet, Lifestyles–the Medifast Program of
Patient Support®. The cost for
Medifast Plus (860 calories per day) during the weight-loss
phase is $20 per week for program fees plus any necessary
laboratory fees and $30–$50 per week for product. There is
no fee for the maintenance booklet, Lifestyles–the Medifast
Program of Patient Support®. The
cost for the Take Shape
product line is $30 per week during weight-loss. Maintenance
costs vary depending on how much product is used, but
averages $20 per week. Costs may be covered by
insurance.
• Healthy Lifestyle Components: The Medifast program
includes a comprehensive education program called Lifestyles
that includes behavior modification, a physical activity
program, and nutrition education. Instruction booklets and
patient guides are provided, including a quarterly patient
newsletter.
• Comments: You are in close contact with one or more
health professionals. The low-
calorie level of the program promotes fast weight loss.
There is an extensive product line. You must rely on
Medifast products during the weight-loss phase. The
maintenance program assists with your transition to regular
foods. If you are not a candidate for a very low-calorie
diet, Medifast products and regular foods can be used.
• Availability: 15,000 physicians nationwide,
primarily in office-based settings, and in foreign
countries.
• Headquarters: Healthrite, Inc., Owings Mills, MD
1-800-638-7867.
Information supplied by Medifast.
