Press Releases

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 22, the American Diabetes Association will "Sound the Alert" for the 17th consecutive year to raise awareness of the devastating health implications of diabetes - the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S. - affecting 18.2 million, and killing approximately 400,000 each year.

As part of this initiative, Medifast, a leading weight and health management company, is encouraging Americans to take steps to prevent developing diabetes, and to help all Americans understand the health implications and need for immediate treatment and lifestyle changes. In an effort to educate Americans on the link between obesity and diabetes, Medifast today officially launched a new educational website http://www.weightanddiabetes.com/, to offer information on the disease and ways to prevent and treat diabetes.

"Diabetes and obesity are among the top public health problems in the U.S.," explained Leo Williams, ADA Board Member (Maryland chapter) and Medifast executive. "More than 5 million Americans are not aware that they have diabetes, and if left untreated, diabetes can be destructive and deadly. Building awareness of the risk factors for diabetes is critical."

While most Americans admit to understanding the dangers of obesity, a recent national survey commissioned by Medifast found that nearly 50 percent said that they were "not concerned at all" about the effect their weight may be having on their health. Furthermore, most Americans said they are unable to lose weight and keep it off.

"Americans are in denial about the dangers of obesity on their health," added Williams. "With more than 60 percent of Americans overweight and diabetes on the rise, it is critical that Americans start taking steps to change their lifestyle and improve their health. We hope that Diabetes Alert Day and Medifast's new educational Web site will help empower Americans with the knowledge to take action and make changes."

Dick Vitale, the voice of college basketball and one of the most nation's most popular motivational speakers, encourages consumers to take control of their weight through Medifast. "Through speaking at their annual conferences, I've met many Medifast users and heard their amazing stories about how Medifast has helped them lose weight and control their diabetes. Medifast is great for people with diabetes because it has been clinically proven to help people lose weight quickly and safely."

About Medifast: (http://www.medifastdiet.com/)

Medifast has been helping people lose weight and achieve better health for almost 25 years. Its meal replacement foods have been proven effective at Johns Hopkins University, recommended by over 15,000 physicians and used by more than 1,000,000 customers. Medifast offers its customers world-class customer service, technical and medical support through its direct-to- consumers "Lifestyle" program, as well as its health networking program, "Take Shape for Life," http://www.tsfl.com/.

SOURCE: Medifast, Inc.