Snack for Weight Loss Being Developed

February 21, 2001

A "structured snack" product, Lean On Me(TM), now undergoing a clinical trail at Baylor College of Medicine, provides women with a new nutritionally balanced, good tasting way for losing weight and helping to maintain weight loss.

"Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. It is a major women's health issue. Physicians and women are desperate to find something new that is safe and that works to help curb overeating and win the battle of the bulge. Despite a wide-variety of weight-loss methods and programs, the situation is getting worse. In fact, we now know that restrictive dieting can actually lead to overeating by changing the wrong key chemical receptors in the body. This is particularly distressing for overweight women, as our society values thinness. Obesity is stigmatized and overweight women suffer discrimination in work and in relationships," said G. Ken Goodrick, associate professor of family and community medicine at Baylor.

"We need to make carefully designed, easy, little changes in products that look like snacks that can make safe and subtle differences in the body's metabolism. Lean on Me(TM) is the first new product that contains all the right scientifically researched components of hunger control. Low glycemic carbohydrates regulate blood sugar levels, bulk fiber leads to a sense of 'fullness,' green tea extracts accelerate metabolism." The product also stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain to control appetite.

Bob Jones, president and CEO of Functional Foods, Inc., said, "We are very excited to be sponsoring this research with Ken Goodrick at the Baylor College of Medicine. We have a new approach that will help millions of women make important changes in their lifestyles and improve their health."

Lean On Me(TM), a "structured snack," includes psyllium, barley, and fructose, because these types of carbohydrates have been associated with weight loss and promoting satiety. Also, 5-HTP is added to promote satiety. Green tea extract is added because it has a unique compound in it that increases the rate at which the body burns calories, particularly fat.

The nine-month trial will involve 50 women, ages 25-60, with a minimum body mass index of 30. The trial is the result of an unrestricted research grant from Functional Foods, Inc. The company is providing samples of Lean on Me(TM) to participating individuals.