The Secret Is Out: Medifast, What Physicians Have Always Known About Weight Loss

This is an official publication describing the Medifast Diet written by a research clinician at Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, and the then current CEO of Medifast, Inc. The current website for Medifast includes similar material to the book. Some of the material has been updated, a detailed product description (for discussing with your physician) and a Frequently Asked Questions Page is also on the website.

This is the author bio from the front of the book. 

Lisa M. Davis, PhD, PA-C, is a weight management clinician and re-searcher at the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD. Davis also received her PhD in Nutrition from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where her research focus was the role of dopamine in obesity and addiction. She is an internal medicine practitioner and has counseled numerous patients on nutrition and diabetes education. Davis mainly focuses on tools of behavior change like "mindful" eating practices as keys to long-term weight control.

Brad MacDonald is a retired Colonel who served his country as a Marine Corps officer for 26 years. Brad’s professional career includes extensive executive experience in the nutrition, weight loss and health industries with organizations such as Carnation Company, American Brands, Vitamin Specialties, The Marine Corps Exchange System and Begley Drug Stores. Brad joined Medifast in the late 1990s as CEO and has led the expansion of Medifast’s clinically proven line of products to over 50 food items by developing new categories of foods to serve consumers better, maintaining a company commitment to research and development as well as expanding the business to multiple channels of distribution to meet the needs of individual consumers. He is committed to proliferating meal replacement technology for weight management and improved health outcomes. Brad’s most significant accomplishment in his business career has been establishing a health network which extends the use of Medifast products as a permanent weight maintenance program as the co-founder of Take Shape for Life, a division of Medifast. Brad is a member of the Board of Trustees at Villa Julie College in Stevenson, Md. 

The book discusses the American Obesity Problem, critiques other diet programs, and then explains the Secret of the Medifast Program - a very structured program of  pre-packaged, portion-controlled, nutritionally-enhanced meals emphazing soy protein to control hunger and help develop healthy eating habits for life. 

There are detailed descriptions of how to get started, what the program consists of - 5 Medifast Meals and 1 "Lean and Green" meal, and steps for transition and maintenance.  Medifast has additional product supplement programs to address the needs of diabetics, patients with joint problems, and specific sections devoted to women’s and men’s health. 

The final chapters discuss weight loss medications, obesity surgery and then conclude with recipes and sample daily menus. 

The Medifast Diet embodies many of the principles from Barry Sear’s The Soy Zone. It includes VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) meal plans to support calorie restriction (800 - 1200 calorie plans.)  The emphasis on soy protein in the shakes and many meal packets provides close to the amount of soy protein that Sears suggests. And the every three hour nutritional supplementation (vitamin/mineral premix) enhanced with the one "Lean and Green" meal can allow individuals to live within their particular cultural setting while enhancing their diets with other Top 100 Zone Foods,  specifically the Omega-3 (EPA&DHA long-chain fatty acids) Sears discusses in the Omega Zone 

Medifast offers its diet recommendations to produce a "mild state of ketosis." It is thus consistent with other "ketogenic" diets like Atkins, South Beach, Protein Power, etc. The food packets with pre formulated nutrients are probably more scientific, if not healthier than these other programs, and certainly require less work (planning, shopping, cooking) to use. 

Medifast offers their program, with online and phone support from registered nutritionists, and claims you can stay on their recent version of the diet for as long as you need to. Like Atkins, there are examples in the book of success stories, people losing 63 to 170 pounds.

Despite some recent books on ketogenic diets for children (the Keto Kid), there is no reference to using this diet with children in the index.  "Adolescent use – beyond puberty and under the age of 18, any weight loss program (such as Medifast) should be used only as directed by your physician." (see below)

The following is taken from the Frequently Asked Questions on the medifast site.  Emphasis is mine.

Contraindications

What conditions would absolutely PROHIBIT my use of a low calorie diet such as Medifast?

• Myocardial Infarction (MI) / Heart Attack within previous 3 months (unless cleared by a cardiologist)
• Recent or recurrent CVAs and/or TIAs, stroke; uncontrolled seizures
• Unstable angina, clotting disorders
• Type 1 Diabetes (can be used for improved nutrition or weight maintenance but not recommended for a weight loss program; can add Medifast Meals to regular dietary intake)
• Severe liver disease (may require a low protein diet)
• Severe kidney disease
• Active peptic ulcer disease
• Active cancers
• Active Thrombophlebitis (DVT/PE within 3 months)
• Pregnant or lactating
• Eating disorder such as Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia
• Severe psychiatric disturbance (history of major depression and/or suicide attempts)
• Corticosteroid therapy >20 mg/day
• Chronic illicit drug usage; addictions; alcoholism; substance abuse

Limited Use

What conditions could LIMIT my use of Medifast products?

Certain conditions may necessitate close supervision by your physician. Please check with your physician prior to starting the Medifast program if any of the following conditions apply:

• Use of the medication Lithium (your physician may wish to order laboratory blood tests to determine lithium levels while on the program)
• A history of seizures (your physician may wish to order laboratory blood tests to determine seizure medication levels)
• History of Peptic Ulcer disease (not active)
• Anticoagulant medication such as Coumadin or Warfarin, require consistent intake of vitamin K to get the most benefit from the medication. Since Vitamin K in foods may affect the action of anticoagulants, you should avoid drastic changes in dietary habits or in your consumption of foods high in vitamin K. All Medifast products contain Vitamin K in the vitamin/mineral premix. You can use the Medifast program with this medication since your daily intake of vitamin K will be similar each day. Your physician should be aware that Medifast products are fortified with vitamin K. It is important to work with your physician to have laboratory blood work done to determine a therapeutic level of the Coumadin or Warfarin medication.
• Over the age of 70 years old, a higher calorie and/or protein level may be necessary, so we do not recommend the standard Medifast 5 & 1 Plan. Some people over the age of 70 have been successful with weight loss using Medifast products in conjunction with a 1,200 calorie per day diet.
• Adolescent use – beyond puberty and under the age of 18, any weight loss program (such as Medifast) should be used only as directed by your physician.

A new book Wal-Smart describes many aspects of how Wal-mart has changed business forever.  The author Marquard, suggests at least two major ideas that you need to be successful in the current business climate. These processes are also essential for a successful diet program. 

1. You must "choose" a specific strategy, or "lose" to the powerful forces around us. Your choice, acted upon with deliberate, focused intentionality, will make you successful or not. 
2. You need to run a strong-process organization developing the discipline to ensure that your (diet) processes are adhered to throughout your day, every day.

Medifast has some well defined weight control processes that are clear, simple and powerful. This book is a place to start learning about those processes.