Expansion of expert panel builds on company's
strong scientific heritage as it sets sights on broader
$230 billion health and wellness
industry
BALTIMORE, July 21,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast (NYSE: MED), the global
company behind one of the fastest-growing health and wellness
communities, OPTAVIA®, announced today the
addition of three new members to its long-standing Scientific
Advisory Board: Dr. Nikhil
Dhurandhar, Dr. Graham Thomas
and Dr. Jessica Unick. Medifast's
Scientific Advisory Board is now comprised of seven internationally
recognized experts who provide objective insights to guide the
company in making informed decisions based on the latest scientific
developments in health and wellness. The cross-disciplinary panel
was established in 2008 in service of the company's commitment to
providing an evidence-based, safe and effective health and wellness
program that meets consumer needs.
![Medifast announces the addition of three new members to its long-standing Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar, Dr. Graham Thomas and Dr. Jessica Unick. Medifast announces the addition of three new members to its long-standing Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar, Dr. Graham Thomas and Dr. Jessica Unick.](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1863250/Medifast_Scientific_Advisory_Board_Additions.jpg)
- Dr. Dhurandhar's 38 years of experience as a physician
and nutritional biochemist has included the use of lifestyle
interventions in his treatment of over 15,000 patients with
obesity.
- Dr. Thomas' research focuses on the use of technology
for the assessment and treatment of health behaviors, which he
applies when developing AI-powered behavioral intervention research
and digital health technologies.
- Dr. Unick's weight loss research focuses on
adapting behavioral interventions for early non-responders
and the impact of physical activity.
"Medifast's Scientific Advisory Board's scope has expanded
beyond weight loss and nutrition to include behavioral health and
health-focused technology," said Dan
Chard, Chairman and CEO of Medifast. "OPTAVIA's
clinically proven plans are designed with input from our
distinguished board members and help over one million people
annually transform their lives. As consumers seek evidence-based
tools and individualized support, more and more people are turning
to OPTAVIA as the solution to help them achieve their health
goals."
Medifast is rooted in more than 40 years of scientific knowledge
and clinical heritage. The cross-disciplinary advisory board
supports Medifast's commitment to provide scientifically valid,
consumer-centric, high-quality innovations for lasting
health – a commitment the company continues to invest in as
part of its strategy for continued growth.
The new members of the Scientific Advisory Board are as
follows:
Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar,
PhD
Professor and Chairperson of the Department of
Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech
University | Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of
Obesity
Dr. J. Graham Thomas,
PhD
Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Brown Alpert
Medical School | Associate Director at the Miriam Hospital's Weight
Control and Diabetes Research Center | Co-founder of Lummé
Health
Dr. Jessica Unick,
PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the
Brown Alpert Medical School and the Miriam Hospital's Weight
Control and Diabetes Research Center
About Medifast:
Medifast (NYSE: MED) is the global company behind one of the
fastest-growing health and wellness
communities, OPTAVIA®, which offers
scientifically developed products, clinically proven plans and the
support of independent OPTAVIA Coaches and a Community to
help Customers achieve Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit
at a Time®. As the publicly traded market leader by
revenue in the U.S. $7 billion weight
management industry, the company has impacted more than 2 million
lives through its Community of OPTAVIA Coaches, who teach
Customers how to develop holistic healthy habits through the
proprietary Habits of Health® Transformational System.
Medifast was recognized in 2022 as one of America's Best Mid-Sized
Companies by Forbes, in 2020 and 2021 as one of FORTUNE's 100
Fastest-Growing Companies and was named to Forbes' 100
Most Trustworthy Companies in America list in 2017. For more
information,
visit MedifastInc.com or OPTAVIA.com and
follow @Medifast on Twitter.
![(PRNewsfoto/Medifast, Inc.) (PRNewsfoto/Medifast, Inc.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686712/MED_MED_IDN_03_Medifast_Logo_CMYK.jpg)
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SOURCE Medifast