Excess weight impacts all areas of health, making weight management essential in healthcare practices. Obesity is a major public health challenge, with rates increasing by 80% in the last 33 years. Many self-select diet programs have mixed long-term success, making it difficult for patients to achieve their desired results. Healthcare practitioners are best equipped to guide patients through their weight loss journey, especially with the Shake It Weight Management Program, which is based on the latest clinical and empirical research.

Research shows that structured programs run by healthcare professionals, which include dietary and activity guidelines and regular consultations, are more successful than self-help models. Shake It is a structured weight management program that supports and educates practitioners to guide patients for sustained results. It offers two dietary plans to increase compliance and support weight loss while maintaining lean muscle mass.

• Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations: Shake It includes diet and lifestyle advice and behavioral change education, fundamental for achieving weight loss.
• Technical Support: Practitioners have access to technical education and support to implement the program effectively.
• Tailored Approach: Practitioners can tailor the program to suit individual patient needs, providing motivation and support.

The program is based on the ‘body weight set-point’ theory, which suggests the body maintains a certain weight by adjusting appetite and energy expenditure. Shake It helps patients create a caloric deficit without the body defending its weight, reducing cravings and improving weight loss outcomes.

1. Ketogenic Plan: Low carbohydrate, includes healthy oils (50% fat, 30% protein, 20% carbohydrates).
2. Low Fat Plan: Low fat, includes liberal carbohydrates (20% fat, 30% protein, 50% carbohydrates).

Both plans include plenty of vegetables and fiber to support well-being and satiety. Calories should be approximately 30% less than the patient’s current diet.

Each plan includes adequate protein with each meal. Protein-rich meal substitutes, like shakes or bars, improve compliance and results. The Shake It range includes various protein sources to maintain muscle mass and support sustained results.

• Increased Satiety: Protein is more satiating than carbohydrates and fat.
• Increased Thermogenesis: Protein requires more energy for digestion and absorption.
• Improved Body Composition: Maintaining muscle mass is vital for sustained weight loss.

Shake It is a holistic program that promotes healthier habits for life. Key recommendations include:

• Sleep: 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep per night.
• Water Intake: Adequate hydration is essential for successful weight loss.

Exercise is a key component of the Shake It Program. Moderate to high-intensity aerobic exercise is required to reduce body weight and prevent excess weight gain. Recommended guidelines are:

• While on the program: 180 minutes per week (e.g., 30 minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise six times per week, alternating with 20-minute High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)).
• While on the diet break: 200 to 300 minutes per week (e.g., 40 to 60 minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise five times per week, alternating with 20-minute HIIT).

Research shows that structured programs run by healthcare professionals are more successful in supporting weight loss than self-help methods. Shake It is the only true practitioner-only weight management program, allowing practitioners to individualize the program to suit each patient.

Self-monitoring of food intake and exercise is crucial for increasing self-awareness and tracking progress. Ketostix® can be used during the ketogenic diet to test for ketones, indicating fat mobilization.

Probiotics for metabolic health and weight are significant in the Shake It Program. Clinically researched probiotics are recommended throughout the program. Microbiome research suggests a correlation between body weight and microbiome composition, influencing energy storage, glycemic control, and satiety hormones. Specific probiotics can help control weight, metabolic markers, and body composition.

• Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (B-420™): Shown to improve body fat mass, abdominal fat, waist circumference, and lean muscle mass, and reduce calorie consumption.
• Lactobacillus gasseri (SBT2055): Reduces BMI, waist circumference, total fat mass, and visceral and subcutaneous fat mass.
• Peri-natal glucose control and weight management: Probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (BB-12®) have shown positive results for glycemic control during pregnancy and reduced central abdominal adiposity postpartum.
• Metabolic parameters: Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (HN019™) has been shown to reduce total cholesterol, LDL, BMI, and proinflammatory cytokines associated with obesity and insulin resistance.

Figure 2: Clinically Trialled Probiotic Strains for Weight Control and Metabolic Health.