RETROFIT Leads New Approach to Weight Loss Management in 2012

SKOKIE, Ill., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RETROFIT, LLC, the company dedicated to permanent weight loss, is leading the way to long-term weight loss success by incorporating two new monitoring devices:  the Fitbit Ultra Tracker and Withings Body Scale.  RETROFIT believes that new weight loss management systems providing updated technology and information to motivate consumers will provide a stronger platform for long-term behavior change.   New data from a limited beta, that began admitting users in September, is promising with 21 of 22 activated RETROFIT beta clients losing weight.

RETROFIT's activated clients transmit data via their Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity Tracker and Withings WiFi body scale and have had 1:1 Skype video consultation with their own registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, and behavior coach.  Each of the devices provides rich data that is vital to supporting the data-driven RETROFIT weight management program. 

"This was a much more intelligent and strategic approach," Scott Kirkpatrick, a sports agent and RETROFIT beta client, shares. "You do get addicted to checking in and seeing where you are on a daily basis.  You want your numbers to be positive.  You want your numbers to be trending in the right direction.  And, knowing a team is evaluating your daily performance, you are definitely motivated to stay on the program."

The Fitbit Tracker tracks a person's all-day activity to provide real-time feedback on steps, distance, calories burned, and stairs climbed to encourage more activity, an essential element in the weight loss management system.  The tracker also monitors sleep.  The data is wirelessly uploaded to Fitbit.com to allow deeper insight into fitness and sleep levels with free online graphs and charts, as well as the ability to compare with friends and earn badges for extra motivation.

The Withings WiFi Body Scale makes weight and BMI tracking a cinch.  Once a user steps on the scale, it uses WiFi to wirelessly record and transmit that user's body weight, lean & fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) onto their own secure Withings webpage. 

With the RETROFIT partnership, data from both Fitbit and Withings accounts automatically sync to the client's personal RETROFIT dashboard.  The combined data is analyzed daily by the client's multi-disciplinary expert team in an innovative year-long program.  The team, which consists of a registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, and behavior coach, uses the data to help clients lose at least 10% of their body weight and then achieve sustained weight stability before graduating from the program.

The partnership between RETROFIT, Withings, and Fitbit marks the beginning of a coming revolution in how Americans manage their health.  Eric Topol, MD, Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute, says in an upcoming book that wearable sensors, smartphone apps, and social networks will deliver "big data" to clinics, laboratories, hospitals and wellness teams influencing everything from the treatment of disease, to the prolonging of health, to the development of new treatments.

"We are dedicated to delivering simple, innovative health and fitness products and services that empower people to lead healthier, more active lives by providing them their own fitness data online, mobile or in real time," said Woody Scal, Fitbit's Chief Revenue Officer.   "This product integration with RETROFIT opens up a unique opportunity to better understand the potential of building consumer behavior when the consumers are further supported by a team of coaches."

"We are extremely fortunate to have the superior technology of Fitbit and Withings as part of the RETROFIT program.  These incredible devices deliver data to our clients and their wellness teams in real time, which in turn informs their future choices with respect to diet and exercise," said Jeff Hyman, CEO of RETROFIT.  "We look forward to a long and successful alliance with partners like Fitbit and Withings that continue to drive innovation in self-monitoring."

About RETROFIT

RETROFIT was founded with the simple mission to help people lose at least 10% of their body weight and keep it off over one year.  RETROFIT arms its clients with wireless data collection devices to ensure accountability, as well as a personal team of wellness experts to design a tailor-made plan for weight management. RETROFIT can be found on the Web at www.retrofitme.com and 855-4-RETROFIT.

About FITBIT

Founded in 2008 in San Francisco, CA, Fitbit is dedicated to delivering simple, innovative health and fitness products and services that engage people to lead healthier, more active lives by giving them the tools to become more aware, more motivated and more fit every day. Fitbit is the market leader for wireless activity trackers.   Fitbit's Ultra Wireless and Sleep Tracker is the leading wireless activity tracker on the market, with distribution at such retailers as Best Buy, Amazon, Brookstone, REI, Radio Shack and 24 Hour Fitness. Fitbit is funded by the Foundry Group, True Ventures, and SoftTech VC.  For more information please visit www.fitbit.com or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

About WITHINGS:

Withings designs, develops, and industrializes connected objects. As a French start-up established by executives from technology and telecom industry, Withings has a focus on innovation and design for everyday products.  Firstly, Withings released the world's first internet and WiFi connected body scale and has since then expanded its product line with the iOS connected Smart Blood Pressure Monitor, and an internet connected Smart Baby Monitor.  Withings is an actor in the Internet of Things and thus increases capabilities of an object by network resources allows accessing to infinite calculation and storage capacities without increasing the cost.  For more information, visit www.withings.com.

For more information:
Mike Beyer
THE HARBINGER GROUP
773-463-4211 (office)
312-961-2502 (mobile)
[email protected]

SOURCE RETROFIT, LLC