packages, which allows the dieter to sample a specific
flavor without having to purchase six or more servings.
The Optima diet plan is available in a downloadable
booklet free of charge on the Internet; in addition,
the various boxed Slim-Fast products have thumb-
nail summaries of the diet printed on the side or back
panels. The Slim-Fast website contains much more
general information about nutrition, weight reduc-
tion, and exercise than most product-related diet
websites. It also contains a number of recipes for
such popular foods as chili, barbecued chicken,
steak with mushrooms, and meat loaf.
The diet plan urges physical exercise as an important
part of a healthy lifestyle as well as a weight reduc-
tion program.
The Optima diet plan follows the U. S. Department
of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2005 dietary guidelines.
It does not require calorie counting or careful meas-
urement of portion size.
The plan’s recommendation of support groups and
the use of a food diary are important psychological
helps to many dieters. In addition, the company has
weight loss advisors and professional dietitians avail-
able by telephone for dieters who need ‘‘help in set-
ting realistic goals’’ or specific dietary advice.
The diet plan’s overall flexibility in regard to meal
replacements and ‘‘sensible meals’’ makes it easier for
dieters to tailor it to their own time schedules and
meal preferences.
The fact that both the diet plan and the products
have been evaluated in clinical trials is reassuring to
many dieters.
The Slim-Fast products themselves are tastier and
appear to satisfy hunger better since their reformulation
in 2004. Some studies indicate that the solid bars, how-
ever, are more effective in controlling feelings of hunger
than the LMRs. An additional advantage is the rela-
tively low cost of Slim-Fast products compared to other
prepackaged diet formulas. In fact, Slim-Fast owed its
initial success in competing with Metrecal in the 1980s
to its considerably lower price. One clinical study of
Slim-Fast focused specifically on its effectiveness in
helping low-income dieters lose weight, on the grounds
that the incidence ofobesityis high in this population.
The study found that the subjects were significantly
more successful in losing weight (7% of body weight
on average) with the Slim-Fast plan (2 meal replace-
ments per day plus one sensible meal) than they were
when they simply attended a nutrition clinic. However,
cost will still be a barrier for some. Typical prices for
Slim-Fast products as of early 2007 are $10 for a can of
Optima powder (14 servings); $5.79 for a box of 6 snackbars; $4.29 for a box of 6 cookie bars; and $6.79 for a
six-pack of Optima shakes.
Another benefit is that they are supplemented to
provide sufficient intakes of minerals and vitamins
when consumed in the recommended amounts so
micronutrient deficiencies are unlikely to be a problem
despite reduced energy/calorie intakes.Precautions
In general, women who are pregnant or nursing;
adolescents under 18 years of age; and anyone who
needs to lose more than 30 pounds and/or has not been
physically active should consult their physician before
starting any weight reduction program. The Slim-Fast
plan and the products themselves, however, are less likely
to cause health problems than very low calorie diets
(VLCDs) orfad diets. The Slim-Fast plan booklet specif-
ically warns against eating less than 1200 calories per day.Risks
No major health risks have been reported from
use of either the diet plan or Slim-Fast products when
used as directed.Research and general acceptance
A number of research studies using Slim-Fast have
been published in academic medical journals since 1994,
with studies of its predecessor Metrecal going back to- Many of the studies of the 1960s measured such
factors as the effect of these drinks on blood lipid levels or
on chemical changes in human saliva, but several early
studies directly addressed thequestion of the effectiveness
of LMRs in weight reduction.Slim-Fast has been studied
more often than most comparable diet products, having
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR
DOCTOR Would you recommend the Slim-Fast diet plan
for a person of my age, sex, lifestyle, and
medical history?
Have you read any of the medical research
about Slim-Fast?
Have any of your other patients tried Slim-Fast,
and if so, did they lose weight? Did they like the
products?
Do you know of anyone who has developed a
new health problem or had a previous condition
grow worse from using Slim-Fast?Slim-Fast