UN Unilever NV

Don't let the declining economy derail your weight loss goals ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- With the economy in a downward spiral, many Americans are alleviating stress by turning to the comfort -- and relatively low cost -- of high-calorie, less healthy food choices that can lead to weight-gain. But with two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese, knowing how to eat right and economically during stressful times is an important tool to help reduce the health risks of being overweight. "Research shows that stress isn't the only ill health effect of an ailing economy. Often, people simply don't eat well, whether it's to ease their stress or save money," said Dr. Denise Martz, practicing psychologist, professor and expert in the area of body image and size. "The Slim-Fast Plan offers a scientifically proven approach to help slim your waistline without trimming your wallet. The Plan emphasizes sensible eating, portion control, regular exercise and round-the-clock support, and can be customized to fit each person's individual needs." At only about $1 average cost per Slim-Fast meal(1), the Slim-Fast Plan is not only economical but also flexible and convenient to fit within a person's busy lifestyle. Slim-Fast offers free support and tracking tools at http://www.slim-fast.com/, as well as an online community dedicated to keeping dieters motivated and on track. This includes free expert advice from Registered Dietitians and support from Weight Loss Advisors, personalized meal plans, customizable fitness plans, a weight tracker, body mass index calculator and personal, online support from other Slim-Fast dieters. Additionally, the Web site will feature a new online community complete with the user's personalized icon and an improved Buddy System that allows members to join groups, find buddies, and get daily support. Slim-Fast is committed to providing a depth of consumer support for dieters to help them navigate the rough waters of weight loss even in a lean economy. With more than 35 published clinical studies, the Slim-Fast Plan has been proven to deliver effective weight loss results, and has been helping consumers succeed at losing weight for the past 30 years. Slim-Fast meal replacement shakes and bars provide built-in portion and calorie control, so there is no counting calories or points, no weighing foods, and no phases. The meals provide balanced nutrition with one-third of the recommended daily intake for most essential vitamins and minerals. And importantly, all Slim-Fast meals -- shakes and meal bars -- control hunger for up to four hours. "Weight loss success is more than just about the foods we eat. It's about creating lifelong, healthy habits such as knowing the right portion sizes and making healthier food choices," said Patricia Groziak, MS, RD, Senior Lead Country Nutrition Manager for Unilever U.S. "Slim-Fast meal replacements help take the guesswork out of dieting and offer an effective way to lose weight -- and keep it off -- especially for people who have difficulty with portion control and food selections. Of course, the beauty of the Slim-Fast approach is that it can be tailored and customized to fit your individual needs and lifestyle. With other programs charging heavy fees for this degree of flexibility and personalization, Slim-Fast truly offers a great value in proven weight loss during a difficult economic time for the U.S." About the Flexible and Wallet-Friendly Slim-Fast Plan The Slim-Fast Plan is a four-step approach to weight loss that focuses on healthy lifestyle habits. -- A Personalized, Balanced Diet: A customized, flexible plan that allows you to mix and match your favorite foods with Slim-Fast products to help control hunger and keep you satisfied. -- An Individualized Activity Program: Finding ways to incorporate regular physical activity into your daily life -- even if you don't love to exercise. -- Support Around the Clock: Free advice from Registered Dietitians, support from Slim-Fast Weight Loss Advisors, and motivation from an online community of Slim-Fast dieters. -- Tracking Your Success: Slim-Fast.com offers free online tracking tools, including personalized food and fitness plans and a weight tracker to help you monitor your progress. About Slim-Fast Foods Company Slim-Fast, a business unit of Unilever, offers delicious and balanced nutritional products, meal planning and exercise advice to aid in weight loss and weight maintenance, which can result in improved health. The Slim-Fast product line includes an affordable range of Shakes, Smoothies, Powders, Meal Bars, Snack Bars, Breakfast Bars and Muffin Bars that are available in retail outlets nationwide. Visit slim-fast.com or call 1 800 SLIMFAST for more information. About Unilever Unilever (NYSE:ULNYSE:UN), one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Eternity by Calvin Klein, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of Unilever. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs more than 15,000 people in 74 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico -- generating approximately $11 billion in sales. For more information visit http://www.unilever.com/. (1) Based on the weighted average retail price of shakes, meal bars and powders per serving DATASOURCE: Slim-Fast CONTACT: Aga ChenFu of Ogilvy PR Worldwide for Slim-Fast, +1-212-880-5278, Web Site: http://www.slim-fast.com/ http://www.unilever.com/

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