ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthCentral Network (http://www.thehealthcentralnetwork.com/) 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 Web site, 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.

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (http://www.thehealthcentralnetwork.com/) has more than 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties, each committed to offering a voice in everyday and personal language people can understand and connect with at critical points in their lives. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth, and trusted medical information, personalized tools and resources, and connections to vast communities of expertise for people seeking to engage in, manage and improve their health. The award-winning, multimedia experience combines medically- reviewed articles from doctors and researchers, as well as news, information, video and extensive engagement from everyday people who have great experience and empathy in specific health areas. The HealthCentral Network was recently recognized for its top Diabetes site (http://www.mydiabetescentral.com/) by The International Medical and Media Awards and received the Health Care Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association. The Company also produces the Medical Breakthroughs television show, seen around the country.

Founded in the late 1990s, The HealthCentral Network, Inc. was acquired in 2005 by a team of blue-chip investors, including Sequoia Capital, Polaris Ventures, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company. With a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science and news journalism, The HealthCentral Network, Inc. aims for the highest standards of quality, relevance and community for patients and their caregivers.

About FoodFit

The FoodFit Company (http://www.foodfit.com/) provides consumers with the information and tools they need to lead a healthier life. Launched in January 2000, FoodFit.com gives millions of visitors personalized, interactive tools to help them make healthful food choices and maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. As a four-time winner of the Forbes "Best of the Web" along with many other awards, the Web site integrates hundreds of features and interactive tools with thousands of recipes and tips from 100 leading chefs and provides its users with a treasure trove of reliable guidance from experts in the fields of nutrition, medicine and fitness.

CONTACT: Lucie Leblois, Director of Marketing of The HealthCentral
Network, Inc., +1-703-302-1053, or leblois@THCN.com

Web site: http://thehealthcentralnetwork.com/
http://www.foodfit.com/
http://www.mydiabetescentral.com/
http://www.cholesterolnetwork.com/