Weight Loss Results

Effect of a behavioral/nutritional intervention program on weight loss in obese adults: a randomized controlled trial

Postgrad Med 2011;123:205-213

The average weight loss for patients in Healthy Solutions^® (meal replacements plus vegetables & fruits) was 30.2 lbs at 24 weeks (13.9% of initial weight) compared to usual-care weight-loss counseling with an average weight loss of 1.5 lbs (.7%). The meal replacement intervention enabled patients to lose an average of 28.7 lbs more than those in the control group.

Reductions in Medications with Substantial Weight Loss with Behavioral Intervention

Curr Clin Pharmacol 2010;5:232-238

Obese and severely obese patients decreased, on average, total medications/day by 43% and 72%, medication dosages by 46% and 79% and average monthly medication costs by 38% and 72%, respectively. 64% of severely obese patients discontinued all medications for co-morbid conditions. Obese patients saved an average of $952 in medical costs the first year and $1152 each subsequent year while severely obese patients saved an average of $1883 the first year and $2064 each subsequent year. Medically supervised weight loss is a very effective approach for improving cardiovascular risk factors and reducing medical costs.

Sequential Changes of Serum Aminotransferase Levels in Severely Obese Patients After Losing Weight Through Enrollment in a Behavioral Weight Loss Program

Postgrad Med 2010:122:206-212
This study documented sequential changes of serum aminotransferase levels after weight loss. This severely obese population had a very high frequency of serum alanine transferase elevations with weight loss, but elevations were transient; values usually returned to below baseline levels after substantial weight loss.

A Systematic Review of Targeted Outcomes Associated with a Medically Supervised Commercial Weight-Loss Program

J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:1417-1421
Weights, behavioral data and side effects for 173 consecutive patients from the HMR Program for Weight Management™ were assessed. Healthy Solutions^® patients (using meal replacements and vegetables and fruit) who completed at least 12 weeks of weight loss lost an average of 37.5 pounds in 18 weeks and Medically Supervised patients lost an average of 43.5 pounds in 19 weeks. These results show an intensive behavioral weight-loss program using low-energy diets, including five meal replacements daily, is safe and effective. The weight losses reported in this study are 2-3 times those published by other commercial weight loss programs in shorter amounts of time.

Weight loss with a behavioral program using meal replacements, fruit and vegetables: a 24-week randomized, controlled trial

Obes 2009;17 suppl 2:S265
Patients randomized to the HMR Healthy Solutions diet (3 shakes, 2 entrees, 5 fruits and vegetables) who completed 12 weeks, lost an average of 33.4 lbs (15.4% of initial weight) compared to those receiving conventional dietetic counseling (these patients lost an average of 1.3 lbs or .6% of initial).

Weight Loss with Intensive Behavioral Treatment and Low-Energy Diets: Response of 195 Consecutive Patients

Obes 2008;16 suppl 1:S148
Patients who used meal replacements and completed at least 8 weeks of a low-energy diet lost an average of 40.5 pounds or 16.1% of initial body weight. Severely obese individuals had significantly greater weight loss with longer duration of treatment. Intensive behavioral therapy using meal replacements as the core of a low-energy diet is very effective for many overweight or obese individuals.

Liver-Function Test Changes with Substantial Weight Loss

Obes 2008; 16 suppl 1:5203
Liver function tests (LFTs) were assessed every 2-4 weeks in two groups of patients. With weight losses of 3-6 lbs. per week, patients had transient increases in LFTs with subsequent return to normal by 16 weeks in 98%. Most of the patients had benign steatosis that benefited from rapid and significant weight loss.

114,000 People in Weight Loss Programs Over 15 Years
Show Increase in Entering Weight and Medications

Obes 2008; 16 suppl 1: s158
All patients (n=114,692) who had completed a health risk appraisal when they entered the HMR Program from 1991 to present were included and analyzed by 4 time frames. For each time frame, the percent of patients who were on cholesterol, blood pressure, oral diabetes medications and insulin increased. Although program outcomes have improved in the past 15 years, patients are entering treatment programs at higher weights and with greater medical co-morbidities.

Impact of different levels of weight loss on blood pressure in overweight and obese women

Dis Manag 2007;10:83-90
After losing weight on an HMR very-low-calorie diet, 159 women were grouped according to the proportion of weight loss after 6 months. Differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found in dose response fashion for weight loss. These data indicate that increasing weight loss beyond 10% of initial body weight may provide added improvements in blood pressure compared to less than 10% weight loss.

High Compliance with Lifestyle Behaviors for Weight Management Is Possible.

Obes 2006;14 suppl:A100.

Data from 1305 weight loss and 870 maintenance patients were evaluated for compliance in the HMR^® Program for Weight Management^TM.  Having high standards for program compliance and using behavioral strategies to meet these goals leads to high compliance in lifestyle changes (e.g., physical activity) and program variables (e.g., attendance).

Specific and Differential Responses of Serum Lipoproteins to Weight Loss of > 100 Pounds.

Obes 2006;14 suppl:A166

Substantial weight loss has selective effects on lipoproteins:  LDL cholesterol gradually decreased and then began to increase and triglycerides decreased progressively.  HDL cholesterol decreased rapidly in 4—8 weeks, returned to baseline at completion of weight loss and then significantly increased at one year.  Overall, weight loss was found to improve all lipoprotein risk factors.

Weight Loss in Five Treatment Options in a Structured Behavioral Program

Obes 2006;14 suppl:A101.

The weight loss outcomes of five treatment options in the HMR Program were evaluated.  Medically supervised patients (n=734) lost and average of 60.9 lbs. or 22.6% of initial body weight in an average of 29 weeks.  Healthy Solutions patients (n=309) lost an average of 41.4 lbs. or 18.5% of initial body weight in an average of 27 weeks.

Weight loss in overweight or obese individuals with different structured interventions in an intense behavioral program.

Obes Res 2004;12 suppl:A40.

In a recent sample of weight-loss participants, medically supervised HMR patients lost an average of 56.8 pounds in an average of 24 weeks and HMR Healthy Solutions^® patients lost an average of 36.7 pounds in an average of 20 weeks. Average reported physical activity was over 2,000 calories per week for all groups.

Reductions in blood pressure and medication costs with 100-pound weight loss.

Obes Res 2004;12 suppl:A38.

For participants who lost > 100 lbs., systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased 12–15%, antihypertensive medications decreased 72%, medication strength decreased 81% and medication cost decreased 78%.

Meal replacement use patterns for patients losing > 100 pounds in a behavioral, low-energy-diet program.

Obes Res 2004;12 suppl:A38.

This study reported on the dietary and exercise patterns of 65 patients who had lost > 100 lbs. Most patients consumed only HMR meal replacement shakes initially but slowly increased the intake of HMR Entrees and nutrition bars.

An adolescent weight reduction program including meal replacements and parental involvement decreases body weight and fat mass of obese adolescents.

Obes Res 2004;12 suppl:A16.

Preliminary data indicated that adolescents lost an average of 25.1 lbs. over 16 weeks. Those with parents participating in the program lost more weight and more body fat than those without parents participating.

Risk factor reductions with 100-pound weight losses: results for 75 medically treated morbidly obese individuals.

Obes Res 2003;11 suppl:A91.

Results from 75 participants who lost > 100 lbs. found that the average weight loss was 136 lbs. or 39% of initial weight over 36 weeks. This weight loss significantly improved all measured CHD risk factors including plasma glucose values, cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol.

Response of obese adolescents to an intensive weight loss program.

Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:407S.

Forty-nine adolescents lost an average of 33.4 lbs. over an average of 18 weeks. For adolescents with a BMI > 40, weight loss averaged 50 lbs.

Prophylaxis against gallstone formation with ursodeoxyholic acid in patients participating in a very-low-calorie diet program. 

Ann Intern Med 1995;122:899–905.

Patients from 31 HMR programs participated in a clinical trial that showed ursodeoxycholic acid is highly effective in preventing gallstone formation during a very low-calorie diet.

Food-containing hypocaloric diets are as effective as liquid-supplement diets for obese individuals with NIDDM.

Diabetes Care 1994;17:602–604.

Forty individuals with type 2 diabetes, using either all meal replacements or meal replacements plus non-MR foods in an HMR medically supervised program, lost an average of 35 lbs. and improved glycemic, blood lipid, and blood pressure parameters.

Relationship of weight loss to cardiovascular risk factors in morbidly obese individuals.

J Am Coll Nutr 1994;14:256–261.

Improvements in cardiovascular risk factors (serum lipids and blood pressure) were significantly and linearly related to the degree of weight loss for 80 morbidly obese patients in a medically supervised HMR program.

Comparative weight loss in obese patients restarting a supplemented very-low-calorie diet.

Am J Clin Nutr 1992;56:290S–291S.

Patients restarting an HMR very low-calorie diet (VLCD) program were found to have similar rates of weight loss—as well as significant net weight loss—suggesting that repeat VLCDs can be effective.