Weight Loss and Meal Replacements

June 23rd, 2008

Improved Weight Loss and Long Term Health Benefits

The Arizona Diet Products program is based upon the use of convenient meal replacement shakes, bars, and puddings that are scientifically proven to provide superior short term and long-term weight loss. The convenient meal replacements make it easy to eat right and make the right choice consistently to ensure optimal success. Additionally the use of convenient meals, such as those provided by Arizona Diet Products, are associated with lower risk of certain types of disease markers. Together this means that the Arizona Diet Products program is an effective way to lose weight quickly and keep it off forever, along with increasing overall health in the long term.

Third Party Study: Value of structured meals for weight management: risk factors and long-term weight maintenance.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in biomarkers of disease risk after 51 months of reduced energy intake and sustained weight loss.

DESIGN: This study was conducted as a prospective, randomized, two-arm, parallel intervention for 12 weeks followed by a prospective, single-arm, 4-year trial in a university-based hospital clinic. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to one of two dietary interventions for 3 months. Group A was prescribed an energy-restricted diet of 1200 to 1500 kcal/d, and group B was prescribed an isocaloric diet, whereby two of three meals were replaced with nutrient-fortified liquid meal replacements (such as Arizona Diet Products). After 3 months, the patients were prescribed the same caloric reduction and used once-daily replacements for the succeeding 4 years. Body weight and blood pressure were checked monthly. Biomarkers of disease risk were measured after 3, 9, 15, 27, and 51 months.

RESULTS: During the 3-month weight-loss period, body weight was reduced by 1.5 +/- 0.4% and 7.8 +/- 0.5% (mean +/- SEM) for groups A and B, respectively. After 4 years, 75% of the patients were evaluated. Total mean weight loss was 3.3 +/- 0.8% and 8.4 +/- 0.8% for groups A and B, respectively. Both groups of patients showed significant improvement in glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, and systolic blood pressure. Cholesterol concentrations were reduced in patients with high initial cholesterol levels and maintenance of a 7% weight loss.

DISCUSSION: Providing a structured meal plan with liquid meal replacements is an effective treatment for obese subjects. Long-term maintenance of weight loss with meal replacements improves biomarkers of disease risk.

Obesity Research Nov; 9 Supplement 4:284S-289S.

Filed under: Diet Programs