-- Nationwide Survey Reveals That Nearly One in Three Americans Plan to Start a Weight Loss Program in March --
BALTIMORE, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- With approximately 127 million overweight adults in the United States(1) and 60 percent of American deaths each year caused by illnesses related to bad habits (including overeating)(2), Medifast, a leading clinically proven portion-controlled weight loss program, is inviting Americans to take the Pledge for Weight Loss (http://www.pledgeforweightloss.com/). As the month of March is dedicated to educating Americans about proper nutrition, this campaign will help to further create awareness about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.
A recent survey revealed that March is a particularly timely month to begin a weight loss program. According to a nationwide survey, sponsored by Medifast and conducted by Kelton Research, a Los Angeles-based market research company, nearly one in three Americans plan to begin a weight loss program this month.
"For those who are looking to lead healthier lives there is no better time to make smart dietary choices and adopt healthy habits," said Lisa Davis, Ph.D., Public Health and Nutrition. "By committing to a weight loss program, millions of Americans will improve their overall health, have more energy, reduce their risk of heart disease, and of course, shed pounds in time for the summer." To help create further awareness about the Pledge for Weight Loss and to help encourage people to commit to leading healthier lifestyles, Medifast will have an on-the-ground presence in the nation's two fattest cities -- Chicago and Los Angeles -- on March 16th and 17th. Representatives will visit popular city destinations in each market to distribute information cards with statistics about Americans' weight problems and their attitudes towards losing weight, while providing information on signing up for the Pledge. Locations in the Chicago area include Water Tower Place, the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier, among others. In Los Angeles, representatives will be on location at the Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Place and Wilshire Boulevard, among others.
The Pledge for Weight Loss urges people to commit to lead healthier lifestyles and provides a list of action items for them to follow. It encourages individuals to identify their personal target weight loss goal and set a date for meeting it. On the Pledge website, people can print out and sign the Pledge, learn about the health benefits of losing weight and download tips for sticking to their weight loss goals.
"Medifast is committed to helping Americans improve their overall health by losing weight. We understand that it is often difficult for people to start a weight loss plan and the Pledge is a great way to help people take the first step to leading healthier lives," said Jaime Elwood, vice president of corporate communications for Medifast. "Our weight loss program helps people lose weight quickly, easily and most importantly helps them keep the weight off long-term." About Medifast http://www.medifastdiet.com/ Medifast (AMEX:MED) is the leading easy-to-use, clinically proven meal replacement weight loss program. Medifast has been recommended by 15,000 physicians and used by over one million customers. Its programs have been proven effective through studies at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and National Institutes of Health. The company sells its products and programs direct to consumer via the web and national call centers, as well as through its national network of physicians and clinics, and Take Shape for Life program. In 2004, the company reported more than $27 million in sales. The company was founded in 1980 and is located in Owings Mills, Maryland.
References 1. American Obesity Association, Obesity in the U.S. Fact Sheet,
May 2005. 2. According to a 2005 Survey by Opinion Research Corporation. DATASOURCE: Medifast CONTACT: Erin Grecu of Warschawski, +1-410-367-2700, ext. 19, , for Medifast Web site: http://www.pledgeforweightloss.com/ http://www.medifastdiet.com/
|