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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #243662
Title: Effectiveness of Medifast supplements combined with obesity pharmacotherapy: A clinical program evaluation

Author
item HADDOCK, C - University Of Missouri
item POSTON, WS - University Of Missouri
item FOREYT, JOHN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item DIBARTOLOMEO, J - Texas State University
item WARNER, P - Texas State University

Submitted to: Eating and Weight Disorders
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2008
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: Haddock, C.K., Poston, W.S.C., Foreyt, J.P., Dibartolomeo, J.J., Warner, P.O. 2008. Effectiveness of Medifast supplements combined with obesity pharmacotherapy: A clinical program evaluation. Eating and Weight Disorders. 13(2):95-101.

Interpretive Summary: This study examined the long-term outcomes of a physician-administered weight loss program combining Medifast meal-replacement supplements (MMRS) with appetite suppressant medication (ASM). Treatment consisted of MMRS and ASM over the course of 1 year or a minimum of 12 weeks. Weight loss outcomes were examined at 12, 24, and 52 weeks. Sustained weight losses of 9% to 12% of initial body weight were seen at all time points. These losses are greater than those typically seen for most medications in both short- and long-term studies and greater than those reported for partial meal replacement programs. Thus, the combining of pharmacotherapy with meal replacements seems to substantially enhance weight loss compared to either alone.

Technical Abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the long-term impact of Medifast meal-replacement supplements (MMRS) combined with appetite suppressant medication (ASM) among participants who received 52 weeks of treatment. We conducted a systematic program evaluation of weight loss data from a medically supervised weight control program combining the use of MMRS and ASM. Data were obtained and analyzed from 1,351 patient (BMI> or =25) medical charts who had participated for at least 12 weeks of treatment. Outcomes included weight loss (kg) and percent weight loss from baseline and at 12, 24, and 52 weeks. Both completers and intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. Completers' (i.e., those with complete data for 52 weeks) outcomes were evaluated after stratification for reported adherence to the MMRS and ASM. Participants who completed 52 weeks of treatment experienced substantial weight losses at 12 (-9.4+/-5.7 kg), 24 (-12.0+/-8.1 kg), and 52 weeks (-12.4+/-9.2 kg) and all measures were significantly different from baseline weight (p<0.001 for all contrasts) for both true completers (n=324) and for ITT analysis (n=1,351). Fifty percent of patients remained in the program at 24 weeks and nearly 25% were still participating at one year. This weight loss program using a combination of MMRS and ASM produced significant and sustained weight losses at 52 weeks. Results were better than those typically reported for obesity pharmacotherapy in both short- and long-term studies and also better than those reported for partial meal replacement programs. Program retention at one year was similar to that reported in many controlled drug trials and better than most commercial programs reported in the literature.