Genie Francis of General Hospital Fame Joins Medifast as New Spokesperson

Genie Francis of General Hospital Fame Joins Medifast as New Spokesperson

Francis, known to fans as Laura Spencer, to become focal point of new marketing campaign

OWINGS MILLS, Md., May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE:MED) announced today that General Hospital's Genie Francis will be the new Medifast spokesperson. Francis has played Laura on General Hospital since she was 14 years old and is up for a Daytime Emmy this June. Francis was attracted to Medifast because she is a married, busy working mom of two, who is looking to lose about 35 pounds.

"I've always thought of myself as a svelte size six and I've been working to get back to that size since the birth of my second child," says Francis. "In my industry, there has always been tremendous pressure on me to stay the same size I was when I was 17. Like so many others, I've tried different methods to lose weight for years but I really never got the weight off. I was so focused on my family and the day-to-day of my busy life that at some point, I just gave up on making my own health a priority."

"I've chosen Medifast because I know I will succeed this time with the help from a program like Medifast," continues Francis. "Medifast has amazing products that taste great and are completely portable for my busy lifestyle as well as personalized support to help me reach my goals and keep the weight off for good this time." continued Francis.

Genie Francis' story is being featured in the June 11 issue of People Magazine and in an upcoming segment on the television show "Extra" on NBC. Francis, who is up for a Daytime Emmy this June, will participate in an upcoming marketing campaign for the company chronicling her journey on the Medifast program. She will also be interacting with existing and prospective Medifast clients by helping them through an online blog and scheduled chats on the Medifast website: http://www.choosemedifast.com/

"We are very pleased to have someone like Genie Francis on the Medifast program and promoting our brand," says Joseph DiBartolomeo PhD, VP Clinical Nutrition for Medifast. "Medifast is one of the best-kept secrets in the industry. We've been a trusted brand in the medical community for more than 26 years and have a unique program that fits the lifestyle of our many clients who are just like Genie. Genie will be an inspiration to many men and women who are looking to lose weight and improve their health. Genie's story will really showcase the benefits of the Medifast program to so many people who just need a little help from a proven weight loss program."

About Medifast:

Medifast (NYSE:MED) is the leading easy-to-use, clinically proven portion-controlled weight loss program. Medifast has been recommended by 15,000 physicians and used by over one million customers. It is committed to enriching lives by providing innovative choices for lasting health. Medifast programs have been proven effective through studies by major university teaching hospitals. The company sells its products and programs via four unique distribution channels: 1) the web and national call centers, 2) national network of physicians, 3) medically supervised Medifast Weight Control Centers, and 4) the Take Shape For Life direct-selling division, a network of health coaches. Medifast was founded in 1980 and is located in Owings Mills, Maryland.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: jelwood@medifastdiet.com

Source: Medifast, Inc.

CONTACT: Michael Sands of Sands Digital Media, Inc., +1-310-850-4755,
SandsMedia@aol.com, for Medifast, Inc.

Web site: http://www.choosemedifast.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment