CARLSBAD, Calif.,
NAASO is the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity.
Since 1982, NAASO has been committed to encouraging research on the causes and
treatment of obesity, and to keeping the medical community and public informed
of new advances. As the largest conference in
Following are the highlights of the SHS presentation:
* From 1999-2002, 67 employees/spouses participated in an employer
sponsored SHS weight management pilot program study.
* All participants had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of > 30 or a BMI of > 27
with two or more risk factors including coronary heart disease,
hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux
disease, sleep apnea, asthma, congestive heart failure, and depression.
* The 12-month weight management program consisted of one-to-one
physician supervised nutrition education, exercise, and behavior change
counseling.
* Participants in the program showed an average reduction in body weight
of more than 5%, as well as lower blood pressure, less depression, and
improved self-esteem as measured by psychometric testing.
* Return on investment (ROI) for the corporation was 197% in year 3 of
the program and projected to be more than 300% in year 5. ROI was
calculated by reduction in claims for prescription drugs, emergency
room visits, and hospitalizations (calculated by the company's
third-party administrator).
'Rising health care costs are a concern for all corporations, and obesity
is a contributor to rising costs and chronic disease states,' said
Both Drs. Gough and Girolami have signed multiyear agreements with iVOW and will be integrally involved with both SHS and iVOW. iVOW expects the acquisition of SHS to close during the fourth quarter of 2005.
iVOW
Our business is focused exclusively on the disease state management of chronic and morbid obesity. We provide program management, operational consulting and clinical training services to physicians and hospitals involved in the medical and surgical treatment of morbidly obese patients. We also provide specialized vitamins to patients who have undergone obesity surgery. Our corporate website is www.ivow.com; information on our nutritional supplements for post-surgical gastric bypass patients may be found on www.vistavitamins.com. iVOW is the new corporate name of Vista Medical Technologies, Inc. iVOW is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the stock symbol IVOWD.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the
business and products of iVOW. Actual results may differ materially depending
on a number of risk factors, including, but not limited to the following: the
successful closing of the acquisition of Sound Health Solutions; the
successful integration of the SHS business; our ability to penetrate the
market for obesity surgery management services; customer acceptance of our
products and services; decisions by Medicare and carriers to provide coverage
for bariatric surgical procedures; uncertainties related to our healthcare
services business model; and our efforts to maintain compliance with the
continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. Other risks
inherent in our business are described in our Securities and Exchange
Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
AT iVOW: AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Michael H. Owens, MD, MPH, FACPE, CPE Tony Rossi
President & CEO Media Contact
mowens@ivow.com trossi@financialrelationsboard.com
(760) 603-9120 (310) 854-8317
SOURCE iVOW, Inc.
