The HealthCentral Network Purchases FoodFit.com, a Leading Online Healthy Lifestyle Destination

06/11/06 The HealthCentral Network announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of The FoodFit Company founded by Ellen Haas, the former Undersecretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (1993-1997). The acquisition includes http://www.foodfit.com, a leading healthy eating and active living Website, which makes healthy food, nutrition and fitness choices easy and enjoyable. In connection with the asset purchase, Ellen Haas will join The HealthCentral Network as founder and president of its FoodFit.com division. The terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

The acquisition combines FoodFit's emphasis on healthy living and disease prevention through nutritious cooking, eating, and fitness with THCN's broad array of Web sites devoted to helping individuals manage diseases and chronic conditions on a daily basis.

"FoodFit's extensive library of healthy recipes and its menu planners and nutritional resources are powerful tools that will naturally complement our patient-focused communities," said Chris Schroeder, CEO and President of The HealthCentral Network. "We are thrilled to be joining forces to bring comprehensive lifestyle and nutrition information to our users."

Visitors to THCN sites will now benefit from FoodFit's broad collection of tools designed to assess health and diet habits and make healthy changes, including 2,500 chef-created, seasonal, customizable recipes that emphasize both taste and nutritional value. MyDiabetesCentral.com visitors, for example, will find low-sugar recipes and nutrition guides, CholesterolNetwork.com visitors will see heart-healthy recipes and meal planners, and more.

FoodFit boasts an unparalleled roster of nationally recognized chefs and nutrition experts from around the country, as well as leading public health and nutrition organization partnerships. Ellen Haas and the FoodFit team authored "Fit Food" published by Hatherleigh Press in 2005 and expect to publish "Fast and Fit" in 2007 with Hatherleigh Press.

"Since FoodFit.com's launch in 2000, we have provided our millions of users with credible, trusted and balanced nutrition information, user-friendly tools, and thousands of chef-created recipes and menus," FoodFit founder Haas said. "The marketing reach and traffic of THCN's collection of more than 30 health Web sites will increase the scale of FoodFit's impact -- it's a win-win combination that will result in healthier consumers."

FoodFit's 600,000 registered users will gain from THCN's broad health offerings, including top-quality disease prevention and management content and condition-focused communities.