OWINGS MILLS, Md., Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED) today announced the grand openings of two new Medifast Weight Control Centers in Maryland. The new Columbia, Md., and Rockville, Md., Centers bring the total to six Medifast Weight Control Centers in Maryland. For more information and to find the nearest Medifast Center, log onto http://www.medifastcenters.com or call 1-888-Y-MEDIFAST.

The Columbia Center is approximately 1,500-square-feet, has five private counseling rooms, and is located in the MedStar Health Building, 5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 110, Columbia, Md 21044. The Rockville Center is approximately 1,140-square-feet and has three private counseling rooms and an assessment room. The Rockville Medifast Weight Control Center is located in the Congressional Plaza, 152 Congressional Lane, Rockville, Md 20852.

"The backbone of the Medifast Weight Control Centers is one-on-one, highly personalized counseling," said Joseph J. DiBartolomeo, Ph.D., Senior V.P. of Medifast Weight Control Centers. "The Columbia and Rockville Medifast Weight Control Centers will provide accountability with weekly weigh-ins. Clients are provided the tools to eliminate unhealthy behaviors and create new, healthy habits."

Medifast Weight Control Centers' trained counselors help clients design a personal program based on their lifestyle. Together, the counselor and client determine an achievable weight-loss program based on an individual profile analysis and an in-body scan that shows exactly where fat is stored and how much recommended weight the client needs to lose, so there is no guessing.

Medifast Weight Control Centers offer the Medifast Program, which has been recommended by over 20,000 doctors since 1980.  Medifast Weight Control Centers offer a proven, safe, and effective option for clients who need personal support during their weight loss.

"We're excited to add a fifth and sixth Medifast Weight Control Center in Maryland," said Michael S. McDevitt, Chief Executive Officer of Medifast, Inc.  "The Columbia Medifast Weight Control Center brings our presence in the Baltimore market to four Centers, while Rockville joins the newly opened Fairfax and Gaithersburg Medifast Weight Control Centers to expand the metro Washington, DC market."

Medifast's 33 corporate-owned Centers are located in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Orlando, Fla.; and Washington, DC markets. 20 Franchised-owned Medifast Weight Control Centers are currently operating in the Minneapolis, Minn., Phoenix, Ariz., Birmingham, Ala., and San Diego and East Bay, Calif. markets.

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About Medifast Weight Control Centers:

Medifast Weight Control Centers currently operates 33 corporate-owned Medifast Weight Control Centers in Florida, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia, and sold the rights to 20 franchise-owned Medifast Weight Control Centers in Alabama, Arizona, California, and Minnesota. Further information and locations can be obtained by calling 1-888-Y-MEDIFAST or visiting http://www.medifastcenters.com.

Please Note: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as "intend" or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Medifast's objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered forward-looking statements. Medifast believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Medifast's inability to attract and retain independent Associates and Members, stability in the pricing of print, TV and Direct Mail marketing initiatives affecting the cost to acquire customers, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes, and its planned growth into new domestic and international markets and new channels of distribution. Although Medifast's believes that the expectations, statements, and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release.

SOURCE Medifast, Inc.