Program Created by HMR and Offered at the Austin Diagnostic Clinic Named a No. 1 "Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet" by U.S. News and World Report

Austin, Texas, January 8, 2016 (Newswire.com) - A program offered by The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) and created by HMR Weight Management Services (HMR) has been named a No. 1 Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Diets of 2016 rankings. This is the first year the magazine has published the Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet category. HMR also held its position as the No. 2 Best Weight-Loss Diet in the annual rankings list for the second year in a row. HMR Programs focus on helping people lose weight quickly while teaching the healthy lifestyle skills needed for long-term weight management.

ADC’s Health Risk Management department has offered the HMR Program since 1986 to Central Texans interested in losing weight and maintaining good health.

" Not only do patients have a successful weight loss, but they are able to learn and discover new healthful behaviors they can use in their daily lives. The techniques of lifestyle changes, taught by our Health Educator Team, distinguishes us from other weight loss programs. This is one of the key ingredients in making this a successful program in both the short and long term journey for our patients."

Delores Brandes, LVN, Director, ADC Health Risk Management Program

“The ADC HRM program excels at providing the jump start many people need when beginning a healthier lifestyle program,” said Program Director Delores Brandes, LVN. “Through the HMR Program at ADC, people can lose weight without feeling hungry. The program achieves fast weight loss in a livable way, by encouraging people to eat more and stay satisfied. This makes it easier to stick to the program in both the short- and long-term.”

Delores adds, “ Not only do patients have a successful weight loss, but they are able to learn and discover new healthful behaviors they can use in their daily lives.  The techniques of lifestyle changes, taught by our Health Educator  Team, distinguishes us from other weight loss programs.  This is one of the key ingredients in making this  a successful program in both the short and  long term journey for our patients.”

Selected Weight-Loss Results from Clinical Studies on the HMR Program

In a clinical study, 1,100 participants with a BMI of 40 or higher who completed at least 12 weeks of the HMR program lost an average of 66 lbs. after 26 weeks (using either the HMR Decision-Free® or Healthy Solutions® program).1 Participants using the Healthy Solutions® at Home program had a median weight loss of 23 lbs. over the first 12 weeks of the program.2 Clinically meaningful weight loss is typically defined as losing 5 percent or more of initial body weight.3 Healthy Solutions at Home participants using phone support maintained an average weight loss of 7.4 percent of initial body weight 18 months after starting the program.4

Selected Health Outcomes from the HMR Program

It is well reported that weight loss is associated with favorable changes in medical risk factors.  Below are health risk reductions and medication changes for 721 HMR patients who participated in a clinic-based program (mean duration of participation 107.6 weeks):5

·       Fasting Glucose (mg/dL): -9.4 percent

·       Total Cholesterol / HDL ratio: -10.3 percent

·       Diastolic / Systolic Blood Pressure: -7 mmHg / -4 mmHg

·       Triglycerides (mg/dL): -26.7 percent

·       Of 126 patients taking oral diabetes medications at baseline, 40.5 percent (n=51) had discontinued these medications at follow-up.

·       Of 45 patients taking insulin at baseline, 35.5 percent (n=16) had discontinued their insulin at follow -up.

·       Of 337 patients taking blood pressure medications at baseline, 36.2 percent (n=122) had discontinued these medications at follow-up.

U.S. News & World Report Ranking Process

During the ranking process, reporters and editors from U.S. News & World Report created in-depth profiles of 38 diets. A panel of nationally recognized experts on diet, nutrition, obesity, food psychology, diabetes and heart disease rated the diets on their effectiveness.

About The Austin Diagnostic Clinic

The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) is an independent group of 145 doctors and providers practicing in 22 medical specialties at 9 locations throughout Central Texas since 1952.   Our vision is to be the premier multispecialty clinic providing compassionate care and excellent service. 

About HMR Weight Management Services Corp. (HMR)

HMR Weight Management Services (HMR) is a subsidiary of Merck specializing in weight loss and weight management. HMR programs, available in person or at home, offer lifestyle education, a structured diet and an emphasis on long-term weight and health management. Founded in 1983 by Lawrence T.P. Stifler, Ph.D. and headquartered in Boston, MA, HMR’s medically-based programs are available to clinics, hospitals, major medical centers, and integrated delivery networks throughout the United States.  For more information, visit www.hmrprogram.com and connect with HMR on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

References

1Anderson JW, et al. Int J Obes. 2007;31:488-493, 2Donnelly JE, et al. Int J Obes. 2007;31:1270-1276,3St Jeor ST, et al. A classification system to evaluate weight maintainers, gainers, and losers. J Am Diet Assoc. 1997;97:481-8,4Donnelly JE, et al. Obes. 2013; 21:1951-1959,5Poster T-2083 presented at Obesity Week, 04Nov2014, Boston, MA; These data reflect mean weight loss and associated changes in health risk factors and changes in medication from patients who: enrolled in HMR’s clinic-based Decision-Free® or Healthy Solutions® programs at one of 43 U.S.-based HMR clinics, completed a baseline health risk assessment (HRA), and a follow-up HRA during the weight-maintenance phase of the program (July/August 2013). Patients were excluded if they did not have continuous enrollment in the HMR program between the time of initiation and completion of the HRA or if they did not have complete biometric values.