NUTRISYSTEM NAMED
NATIONAL STRATEGIC PARTNER OF THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION IN
RECOGNITION OF ITS COMMITMENT TO HELP STOP DIABETES
Nutrisystem
D Clinical Trials Demonstrate Effectiveness of Program for Losing
Weight and Controlling Blood Glucose Levels in People Living with Type 2
Diabetes
Fort Washington, Pa., May 23, 2012
– Nutrisystem (NASDAQ: NTRI), a leading provider of weight management
products and services, today announced that it has been named a National
Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association in recognition
of its commitment to support the mission and the Association’s movement
to Stop Diabetes®.
Nutrisystem
offers the Nutrisystem® D® program, the leading home-delivered weight
loss program clinically tested, in combination with weekly counseling
sessions, to help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and manage
their blood glucose. Nutrisystem D also meets the nutritional guidelines
of the American Diabetes Association.
Diabetes
is one of the fastest growing health problems facing the nation, with
nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States living with
the disease. Another 79 million, or one in three American adults, have
pre-diabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing type 2
diabetes. Diabetes is a leading cause of adult blindness, kidney
failure, lower limb amputations and premature death. Obesity is a major
risk factor of type 2 diabetes, but research has shown that by losing
about 7% of your body weight or about 15 pounds for someone who weighs
200 pounds, diabetes may be delayed or prevented. Weight loss is also
helpful in the management of type 2 diabetes.
“We
are honored to be recognized as a national strategic partner of the
American Diabetes Association, whose worthy mission is to prevent and
cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by this
disease,” said Dr. Bruce Daggy, Chief Science Officer at Nutrisystem.
“At Nutrisystem, we have sponsored clinical research on diabetes and
related conditions with the goal of understanding how nutrition can help
people better manage their type 2 diabetes. With Nutrisystem D, we
offer a program of balanced nutrition which meets the nutritional
guidelines of the Association and helps people with type 2 diabetes lose
weight and manage their blood glucose.”
Nutrisystem
has been committed to the American Diabetes Association’s mission at
the national and regional level for a number of years. Nutrisystem and
its employees have been leading supporters of StepOut: Walk to Stop
Diabetes, a fun family walk designed to raise awareness and help fund
research, information and advocacy efforts of the Association.
Nutrisystem has also supported the Association’s efforts to raise
awareness around American Diabetes Association Alert Day® and the
Working Together to Stop Diabetes® movement, and has undertaken its own
activities aimed at spreading the word about the benefits of losing
weight in helping to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes.
“Through
its support of the American Diabetes Association, Nutrisystem is
helping to further our movement to Stop Diabetes,” said Robert E.
Ratner, Chief Scientific & Medical Officer, MD, FACP, FACE, of the
American Diabetes Association. “Weight loss is critical for helping
those with type 2 diabetes better manage their disease and lead a
healthier life.”
Introduced in
December 2004 as the “Nutrisystem for Diabetics” Program, the
Nutrisystem D program, in combination with weekly counseling sessions,
was clinically tested and results were announced in 2009. The Company
undertook a second clinical trial in 2011. Results of a third clinical
study of Nutrisystem D will be presented at the annual conference of the
American Diabetes Association in Philadelphia, PA, on June 10, 2012.
Nutrisystem D follows the low-glycemic, reduced-calorie,
portion-controlled approach of all Nutrisystem® plans, which simplifies
the task of following a healthy diet. Diets that are low in glycemic
index have been shown in multiple studies to add to the favorable effect
of weight loss on A1C among people with type 2 diabetes.
Two
clinical trials have shown that the Nutrisystem D program, in
combination with behavioral counseling sessions, is effective in helping
people living with type 2 diabetes to lose weight and manage their
blood glucose. The first study, conducted at the Temple University
School of Medicine and published in the journal
Postgraduate Medicine in
2009, showed that Nutrisystem D helped overweight individuals with type
2 diabetes achieve significant improvements in body weight and
hemoglobin A1C (a 90-day measure of blood glucose control).
In
the 2009 study, 79% of the Nutrisystem D participants met the American
Diabetes Association’s target A1C for good glycemic control.
Participants who received the Nutrisystem D intervention also achieved
significantly greater reductions in systolic blood pressure,
cholesterol, triglycerides, and waist circumference, relative to the
control group. The Nutrisystem D participants also reported significant
improvements in quality-of-life. The first study did not include
persons who were using insulin to control their type 2 diabetes.
A
second clinical study was completed in 2011 at Temple University and
the University of Pennsylvania and was presented at the 2011 annual
conference of the Obesity Society. The results of this study confirmed
the improvements seen in the 2009 study in both key outcome measures:
weight loss and A1C reduction. In addition, prescriptions for diabetes
medications were tracked in this six-month study and more than a quarter
of the participants on the Nutrisystem D program had their diabetes
medications reduced by their primary care physicians while on the
study. Subjects with type 2 diabetes taking all common diabetes
medications, including insulin, were included in the 2011 study.
About Nutrisystem
Having
helped Americans lose millions of pounds over the last 40 years,
Nutrisystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRI) develops evidence-based programs for
healthy weight management, and is the leading provider of home-delivered
weight loss meal plans. Nutrisystem offers balanced nutrition in the
form of low glycemic index meal plans designed for men and women,
including seniors, vegetarians and the Nutrisystem® D® program for
people with diabetes or at risk for type 2 diabetes. Nutrisystem® plans
include a wide variety of pantry and fresh-frozen entrees and snacks to
aid in program satisfaction and adherence, as well as transition plans
to support long-term success. The Fort Washington, PA-based company also
provides weight management support and counseling by trained
weight-loss coaches and registered dietitians, as well as through an
engaged online community, online tools and trackers, mobile apps,
cookbooks and more. Healthcare professionals may learn more about the
programs by visiting
www.nutrisystem.com/hcp. Nutrisystem® weight loss plans are available directly to consumers through
www.nutrisystem.com, by phone
(1-800-435-4074)
and at select retailers. The Company has also introduced a new in-store
retail line, Nutrisystem® Everyday™ products, comprised
of nutritionally balanced bars, smoothies, bakery and breakfast
items aimed at consumers who aspire to eat healthier.
