HMR Weight Loss Program

Often abbreviated HMR, Health Management Resources is a private health care company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Lawrence T.P. Stifler established the company in 1983, along with the HMR weight-loss program. The nutritionally sound diet plan has since become the top medically based weight-management program in the United States, according to the HMR website.

Significance of HMR

Available in facilities such as hospitals, medical centers and clinics around the United States, the HMR weight-loss program focuses on eating sensibly and exercising regularly to achieve weight loss in a healthy manner. Numerous dietitians, nurses, physicians and psychologists helped to develop the proprietary diet program. The HMR company also conducts ongoing research to measure the results that participants experience and to improve the features of the program for future participants.

Clinic-Based Programs

Individuals can select a clinic-based HMR weight-loss program or a home-based weight-loss program. The clinic-based program has two versions known as the Decision-Free Program and the Healthy Solutions Program. The Decision-Free Program is designed for obese or extremely overweight people who need to lose as much as 50 lbs. or more, or who have health problems related to their weight. It includes medical supervision to guide participants to success and ensure they remain healthy. The Healthy Solutions Program is designed for overweight people who need to lose about 40 lbs. or more and who do not require medical supervision during the process.

Home-Based Programs

Called HMR at Home, the home-based HMR weight-loss program is designed for individuals who want to lose weight independently, quickly and safely without attending group meetings or receiving medical support. The program supplies participants with regular, automatic at-home delivery of needed food products, detailed print material that explains how the program works and a compact disc to get them off to a good start. Participants can also ask any questions they have by calling a customer service representative.

Food Kits

Each of the three HMR weight-loss programs relies on two main types of food kits that contain various prepackaged food. The HMR Healthy Shakes Diet Kit provides a two-week supply of low-calorie puddings and shakes, and the Healthy Solutions Quick Start Diet Kit contains a three-week supply of low-calorie, nutritionally balanced entrees, puddings and shakes. Individuals on the very low-calorie and low-calorie versions of the Decision-Free Program can eat approximately 500 or 800 calories per day, respectively, which should only come from foods in the kits. In contrast, people following the Healthy Solutions Program or the HMR at Home program can consume 1,200 to 1,600 calories each day, which may include fresh fruits and vegetables that do not come in the food kits.

Considerations

All HMR weight-loss programs aim to help participants improve their eating habits and lifestyle to reach and maintain a healthy weight. To achieve and reinforce those goals, both clinic-based HMR weight-loss programs include group meetings each week at a local medical facility or clinic. The home-based program includes the option of receiving weekly guidance and support from a trained HMR employee over the telephone. Partly due to the support system, some individuals who have followed the HMR weight-loss program have lost about 65 lbs. on average, according to the 2004 "Handbook of Obesity Treatment."