Medifast 70  

Very low calorie diets are also known as protein-sparing modified fast. These diets are designed for relatively rapid weight loss for the patient who has underlying medical problems or a risk for significant medical problems because of their obesity. It is generally recommended that patients be at least 30% above their ideal body weight to undergo any of these types of diets. In reality, a protein-sparing modified fast is not a diet but instead a serious treatment for obesity. Drs. Hughes and Davis have been administering very low calorie diets in their office for the past 15 years and so have had rather extensive clinical experience. They each have received specialized training in the administration of very low calorie diets through the Nutritional Institute of Maryland.

Advantages of the very low calorie diet:
1. Weight loss is rapid 3-1/2 to 5 pounds of stored fat per week.
2. Hunger is virtually absent after the initial break-in period.
3. Easy to follow.
4. It is safe under medical supervision on an outpatient basis and permits your continued
    usual recreation and job activities.
5. It is relatively inexpensive considering he length of time it would take to lose the excess
    fat and obtain a lower body weight by any other program available today.
6. Energy levels remain high.
7. There is dramatic improvement in medical conditions associated with obesity such as
    diabetes, hypertension, fluid retention, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
8. When done correctly there is a preservation of lean body mass consistent with the weight
    loss achieved.

Side Affects:
1. Occasional fatigue.
2. Some light-headedness particularly the first week when dieting has begun.
3. Occasional constipation which can be easily corrected.
4. Occasional irregular menstrual periods particularly early on in the diet. In the majority of
    females, there is no change in the menstrual pattern.
5. Cholelithiasis or gallstones. Any diet is associated with the potential risk of a development
    of gallstones. The incidents of gallstones is higher on very low calorie diets than other
    types of diets. The risk of developing gallstones is intimately related to the compliance of
    the patient on the diet. Unfortunately, being overweight increases one’s risk for
    gallbladder problems as much as four times that of the nonobese patient. The incidents
    of new gallstone formation on our programs are about 0.4%.

Contraindications:
1. Recent myocardial infarction.
2. Recent stroke.
3. Serious psychological illness.
4. History of blood clot in the veins of the legs or pelvis.
5. The use of the drug lithium.
6. Extremely dangerous or hazardous occupations.
7. Some cardiac arrhythmias.

A very low calorie diet is generally continued for a period of 16 to 20 weeks. At the end of that time, progressive food encounters are begun where the patient is given explicit instructions in terms of what foods may be consumed, amounts consumed, as well as supplements consumed. Eventually, the patient is transferred to a 1200 calorie balanced diet.

The supplement which is used in our practice is Medifast. The Medifast program can be done in more than one way. A patient may elect, if they are candidates, to consume only the supplement as their sole source of nutrition. This approach is associated with a relatively rapid weight loss averaging between 3.5 and 5 pounds per week. As stated, this diet is continued for 16 to 20 weeks and then progressive food encounters are begun.