New Study Results Find that Jenny Craig Helps People with Type 2 Diabetes Manage their Weight Better than Usual Care

CARLSBAD, Calif., April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Study Highlights:

• After one year, Jenny Craig participants lost more than three times as much weight as the Usual Care group.
• Study participants following Jenny Craig's lower carbohydrate menu significantly reduced their HbA1c levels from 7.3% to 6.6%, while there were no changes in blood glucose control in the Usual Care group.
• 72% of the Jenny Craig participants taking insulin reduced or eliminated the medication, compared to just 8% of Usual Care participants.

New study results published in the April 23, 2014 online issue of Diabetes Care found that Jenny Craig, a proven solution to weight loss and a leader in the weight loss and weight management industry, helped people with type 2 diabetes lose more weight than those who were provided with "Usual Care" which consists of two counseling sessions and instructions. Participants also significantly lowered HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar controls) and reduced levels of heart disease-related risk factors such as serum triglycerides. Participants who used a lower-carbohydrate Jenny Craig menu had more significant improvement in blood glucose control than those who followed the standard Jenny Craig menu¹. 

As a result of these significant research findings, Jenny Craig now offers a new program for those with type 2 diabetes. The program features a menu that includes an optimal balance of nutrients for healthy weight loss and management of blood glucose levels, as well as educational materials that provide lifestyle strategies for healthy eating, physical activity and self-care for weight management in type 2 diabetes.

Study participants were assigned to one of three treatment plans: the standard Jenny Craig menu, a lower-carbohydrate Jenny Craig menu, or a diet based on Usual Care. After one year, there was an average 8.2% weight loss across all the Jenny Craig participants vs. 2.5% weight loss in the Usual Care group.

Further, Jenny Craig participants following the lower carbohydrate menu lost 9.0% of initial weight as compared to 7.4% for those who followed the standard Jenny Craig menu.  Additionally, individuals in the Jenny Craig lower carbohydrate menu group reduced their HbA1c (a measure of blood sugar levels over time) from 7.3% to 6.6%, while those in the Usual Care group showed no changes in HbA1c levels. In fact, 72% of the Jenny Craig participants in both groups taking insulin reduced or eliminated the medication, as compared to just 8% of Usual Care participants. Also, oral hypoglycemic, cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure medications were more often reduced or eliminated by Jenny Craig participants than Usual Care participants. 

"Weight loss is a primary strategy for successful management of type 2 diabetes due to its impact on glycemic control and improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors," said Cheryl L. Rock, PhD, RD, professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and principal investigator of the study. "These study results suggest that patients not only lose weight on structured commercial weight loss programs that include behavioral modification and individual support, but that this weight loss translates to significant improvements in type 2 diabetes control and cardio-metabolic parameters."

Importantly, the HbA1c levels observed in the Jenny Craig participants following the lower carbohydrate menu were less than 7%, levels which are recommended by health experts to minimize the risk for diabetes complications.  This is particularly significant as it has been shown that for every 1% drop in HbA1c, there is a 40% reduction in the risk for eye, kidney and nerve disease².

Along with the better improvement in glycemic control, the two Jenny Craig groups demonstrated significantly greater reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors, as measured by blood HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, an inflammatory factor and waist circumference. 

Jenny Craig for Type 2 includes portion-controlled meals with the right balance of nutrients to help members lose weight and manage their blood glucose in a healthy way. The structured plan provides a lower carbohydrate menu that includes three meals and three snacks, as well as weekly one-on-one weight management coaching with a trained consultant.To learn more, please visit www.jennycraig.com.

Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and type 2 diabetes accounts for the majority of these cases. People with type 2 diabetes are at risk for many complications, including heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, kidney disease, vision problems and amputation³.

Follow Jenny Craig on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennycraig 
And Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennycraig 

This study was supported by Jenny Craig, Inc. which supplied program activities and educational materials, including consultations and portion-controlled foods.

1. Rock CL, Flatt SW, Pakiz B, Taylor KS, Leone AF, Brelje K, Heath DD, Quintana EL, Sherwood NE. Weight loss, glycemic control and cardiovascular disease risk factors in response to differential diet composition in a weight loss program in type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care, published online April 23, 2014.
2. Diabetes, 1995 Aug: 44(8):968-83. 
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011.

About the Take Charge Study
The study evaluated whether participation in a commercial weight loss program promotes greater weight loss compared to a usual care condition and to examine effects of study participation on markers of glycemic control and cardiovascular disease risk. A total of 227 men and women with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) of 25-45 kg/m2 were enrolled at two study sites and assigned to either the Jenny Craig program, which includes diet and exercise counseling, with prepackaged foods in a planned menu during the initial weight loss phase, or diet according to the usual standard of care. Participants in the Jenny Craig program were either assigned a lower carbohydrate, higher fat, or a higher carbohydrate, lower fat (standard) plan. Follow-up measurements were assessed at three, six and 12 months.

About Jenny Craig
The Jenny Craig program is designed to provide structure and support to help members lose weight and learn how to keep it off.  Jenny Craig's program provides nutritionally-balanced menus, which include over 80 delicious entrees, desserts and snacks developed by dietitians, nutritionists, and food technologists.  One-on-one consultations provide personal support and education on portion control and strategies such as the Volumetrics approach, which helps with satiety.  Jenny Craig consultants work with each member to identify their strengths, challenges and personal goals in order to create unique weekly meal and activity plans that fit individual needs and budgets.  Consultants also help members implement behavioral strategies to support their success. Jenny Craig's comprehensive approach to weight loss is available to members either in person in centers or by phone with Jenny Anywhere.  The program is backed by hard science as demonstrated by a 2010 independent two-year clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing that participants on the Jenny Craig program lost three times more weight than dieting on their own.  Jenny Craig, based in Carlsbad, CA, is one of the world's largest weight management companies, with more than 600 company-owned and franchised centers in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.

Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140421/76762

Video (Jenny Craig – Diabetes Research Trials): https://vimeo.com/mavismedia/review/78558842/85ea92103b

Link to Diabetes Care Article: http://dx.doi.org/10.2337/dc13-2900

SOURCE Jenny Craig