Health Management Resources

Health Management Resources (HMR)

Industry	Weight Loss, Weight Management
Founded	1983
Founder	Dr. Lawrence Stifler
Headquarters	Boston, MA, United States
Key people	Len Tacconi, President
Number of employees	130
Parent	Merck & Co., Inc.
Website	www.hmrprogram.com

HMR, formerly known as Health Management Resources, is a part of Merck & Co. that offers behavioral-based, lifestyle-focused weight management programs that combine a structured diet, physical activity, and lifestyle-change coaching. It was founded as a separate company in 1983, and has provided its programs to U.S. hospitals, medical centers, provider groups, and health systems. More recently, HMR introduced a self-directed program that participants can access online with the option of coaching support by phone.

In 2013, HMR became a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. and is part of Merck's Healthcare Services & Solutions, an entity separate from the pharmaceutical business, which focuses on improving the healthcare experience for patients, providers, and payers.

In 2017, U.S. News & World Report rated HMR the #20 Best Weight-Loss Diet in their annual rankings of diet programs.

The HMR Behavioral Program enables participants to make lifestyle changes to lose weight and then maintain the weight loss. Specifically, the program helps participants learn ways to reduce fat in the diet, eat more fruits and vegetables, and increase daily physical activity. In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that all individuals with obesity (as defined by body mass index or BMI, a measurement relating weight to height, of 30 and above), be offered, or referred to, intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions, which include behavioral management activities (such as setting weight-loss goals), improving diet or nutrition and increasing physical activity, addressing barriers to change, self-monitoring, and strategies to help maintain lifestyle changes.

HMR programs reinforce that the behavioral changes participants make to manage their weight also help for overall health management.

All HMR weight-loss options use a structured diet of meal replacements (portion-controlled, packaged foods) to reduce food choice decisions. Meal replacements have been shown to be an effective strategy for weight management. In the weight-loss phase of the program, meal replacements are used as a tool to achieve weight loss. After reaching goal weight, participants use meal replacements strategically as they transition to a long-term healthy eating plan that includes lean proteins whole grains, and fruits and vegetables.