Slim Fast - Overview and History

Overview and History

Slim-Fast was started in 1977 as a product line of the Thompson Medical Company, founded in the 1940s by S. Daniel Abraham. Thompson Medical also sold the controversial weight loss dietary supplement Dexatrim. In 1987, Abraham took the brand private, and it was acquired by Unilever in 2000.

Slim-Fast used the phrase "a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, then a sensible dinner" for many years to describe the use of the products within the Slim-Fast plan. With the addition of snacks and an approach that allows for different calorie plans, the brand now advocates a more flexible system. The brand has recently become focused on achieving success through tying its use to the Best Life Diet. There is evidence from a 2003 study that Slim-Fast is successful at achieving long-term weight loss for those who follow the diet.