One of the biggest weight loss companies, Cambridge Weight Plan (CWP) is venturing into Australia.
The Greek distributors in Cyprus acquired the Australian licence late last year and are launching the product this year to Australian consumers.
CWP is a weight loss program based on nutritionally complete meal replacements that was initially developed to help obese patients lose weight quickly before heart surgery.
Created by Professor Alan Howard at Cambridge University, the plan has moved on to help people with extreme weight problems and is now for those struggling with weight related problems.
The Plan is already in 30 countries and controls calorie intake, starting from very low intake to a combination of meal replacements and regular meals.
The Greek Australian distributors believe the plan will help many Australians battling the bulge.
“It’s a good range of products and it’s a responsible approach. We medically screen people; we don’t just sell over the counter. We go through accredited consultants,” H.R Director Maria Moutsidis says.
With her partner Helen Zenios, who was a customer and introduced the product in Cyprus, the duo is still at their early stages of the business and hopes to make the business as successful as it has become in Europe.
The meal replacements are not available in pharmacies and to make sure people are medically sound to take the product.
The Australian distribution channel goes through Slimmerlife Australia and only supplies the meal replacements to consultants. The consultants help customers with the plan and manage their weight loss throughout the stabalisation and maintenance process.
Not everyone can do the program, and Ms Moutsidis explains those with pre-existing conditions will have to get their doctor to give the okay.
“There’s a medical record that a consultant has to fill in for every customer. If there are contrary indicators, they just can’t do it at all. Anyone that has had heart surgery or any type of surgery in three months, we want the body to repair, we don’t take on people like that. Anyone that’s under 14 years old, anyone that has severe depression, they’re contrary indicators,” she says.
The strictest form of the plan, with three meal replacements a day will cost $85 a week in Australia.
Recently, the plan won the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and international trade 2012.
The Australian company is currently looking for expressions of interest for people to become consultants.
For more information visit www.cambridgeweightplan.com.au.