Executive Summary

Ten-year users of Slim Fast meal replacement products experienced a 33-pound greater reduction compared to non-users, George Blackburn, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, et al., report at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity Oct. 11-15 in Ft. Lauderdale. Forty-four men and 86 women were provided with meal plans and diet plan instructions were followed for 10 years. At the study's conclusion, "the weight change from baseline was - 3.1 ± kg for men and - 2.4 ± kg for women, researchers report, adding matched controls gained roughly 12.1 kg over the same time period. The positive study results may alleviate 1FTC's stance that consumers should "be skeptical about products that claim they will keep weight off you permanently." Three other studies presented at the conference similarly touted Slim Fast's benefits...