HMR Program Ranked a No. 1 "Best Fast Weight-Loss Diet" for Third Consecutive Year

"Successful weight loss is not only about losing pounds quickly, it's about creating changes around eating and physical activity that you can sustain over the long term," said Carol Addy, M.D. MMSc, Chief Medical Officer at HMR. "By keeping the plan simple, people can lose weight quickly while building the skills they need for long-term weight management."

Ideal for people who want to lose 20 or more pounds, the HMR Program can be followed at home, either as a self-guided option through the HMR app, or with the support of group coaching by phone, free with sign up. The Program is also available with more intensive in-person support at select hospitals and medical facilities across the country.

How the Plan Works

The nutritionally complete plan simplifies food decisions by using only HMR foods (shakes, entrées, cereal, and nutrition bars) and unlimited fruits and vegetables. The plan follows a 3/2/5 structure designed to keep people feeling full throughout the day. The daily plan includes at least 3 shakes, 2 entrees, and 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. People are encouraged to eat as many of these foods as they like to avoid hunger.

While losing weight, people practice developing skills in three specific areas:

• How to eat more fruits and vegetables;
• How to increase physical activity;
• How to make healthier food choices.

These are the lifestyle skills that will help keep the weight off, as well as help reduce the risk factors for the development of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Results

• At home results: Average weight loss for the Healthy Solutions at Home^® program with phone coaching is 23 lbs. at 12 weeks and 28 lbs. at 26 weeks.¹
• Clinic results: Average weight loss for the in-clinic plans are 43-66 lbs. for the Decision-Free^® diet and 28 – 37.5 lbs. for the Healthy Solutions^® diet, based on research studies conducted in people who completed between 12 – 26 weeks.²

About HMR Weight Management Services Corp. (HMR)

HMR Weight Management Services Corp. (HMR) is a part of Healthcare Services and Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.  HMR specializes in improving the healthcare experience for patients, providers and payers. HMR programs, available in person or at home, offer lifestyle education, a structured diet and an emphasis on long-term weight and health management. Since 1983, HMR programs have been available in hospitals, clinics, and medical centers across the country. For more information, visit www.hmrprogram.com.

About Merck

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world - including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer's disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the "company") includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

¹Average weight loss for the Healthy Solutions at Home® program with phone coaching is 23 lbs. at 12 weeks and 28 lbs. at 26 weeks. Int J Obes 2007; 31:1270-1276; Obes 2013; 21:1951-1959. ²Average weight loss for the Decision-Free plan is 43-66 lbs. J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:1417-1421;Int J Obes 2007;31:488-494;J Am Coll Nutr 2005;24:347-353. Average weight loss for the in-clinic Healthy Solutions plan is 28-37.5 lbs. J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:1417-1421;Postgrad Med 2011;123:205-213;Int J Obes 2007;31:1270-1276;Obes 2013;21:1951-1959. These studies were supported and/or sponsored by HMR, including financial support in some cases. Some of the investigators in some of the studies were employees of HMR and/or members of the HMR Medical Advisory Board.

Contact:
Michael Wick
Phone: (212) 885-0583
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE HMR Program