About 70% of adults in the United States are overweight or have obesity, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, but losing weight is a personal journey. Weight loss programs are one way that can help, but with so many to choose from, where do you start? Here’s a review on some of the best weight loss programs to consider and how to select the best one for you.
Weight loss programs versus diets
“I would separate a ‘diet’ from a program, which basically helps you stick to that ‘diet,’” Evan M. Forman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center) at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, tells TODAY.com.
“The dietary prescriptions that have been evaluated and compared are reduced calorie, or balanced calorie deficit, low fat, low carb, plant based and Mediterranean,” adds Forman, who is also a professor of psychology and brain sciences.
Studies show these approaches are all effective — and equally effective when compared with one another — but he cautions individual results can vary widely.
“The main factor seems to be which dietary pattern allows a given person to feel satisfied and is sustainable over the very long term,” Forman advises.
What makes a good weight loss program?
Ask yourself these four questions:
Which program will work best for you?
“Avoid quick fixes,” Satya Jonnalagadda, a registered dietitian nutritionist, tells TODAY.com. “Instead, focus on nutrition and lifestyle changes — one healthy habit at a time.”
Look for plans that include food you enjoy, but make sure the plans are balanced with enough nutrients and include food from all major good groups, according to Mayo Clinic.
Does the program set goals and track what you are eating?
“Effective programs provide nutrition skills, and help you set weight, activity and energy intake, aka calorie, goals, and make it reasonably easy to track your behavior against your goals, including tracking…
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