The weight loss industry is a multibillion dollar behemoth offering consumers everything from exercise equipment to workout videos and self-help books to nutritional products. Many popular diet products, including grocery store items and home-delivered meal programs, abound. To learn which one is right for you, do some research. The key to comparing diet products involves researching nutrition labels, reading user reviews and comparing prices.
Serving Sizes
Read the nutrition labels on food and drink products you are considering purchasing. To make valid comparisons, start with the serving size. Some manufacturers assign different serving sizes to similar-sized products. For example, the maker of one 16-oz. beverage may state the bottle contains one serving, while another manufacturer states the same-size bottle contains two servings. Compare the total calories per serving of products you are comparing.
Nutritional Breakdown
Calculate and compare the percentage of the food or drink that comes from carbohydrates, proteins and fats. If you plan on relying on only one or two food items for your daily caloric intake, such as making a particular diet bar or shake the mainstay of your meals, it's important to know if you'll need to supplement them with other items to get the correct balance of nutrients you'll need each day. Compare the vitamins and minerals contained in each product. You may need more iron, calcium, vitamin D or other specific nutrient based on your gender, age or other health concern. Even if you supplement your vitamin and mineral consumption with a pill, that pill has calories, and you'll want to take this into account if you're choosing a particular diet food or drink.
Fat Types
Read the labels to compare the amounts and types of fats. Avoid products with more saturated and trans fats. Compare the amounts of additives, preservatives, artificial colors and sweeteners. Calculate whether or not you'll receive your recommended daily allowance for all nutrients using a diet food or drink; if you won't and will need to supplement your caloric intake with other foods, add those extra calories to your daily total.
Prices
Calculate the price of a daily supply of each food. While one food may be cheaper per box or bottle, if it contains fewer calories, you may need to purchase more. Visit manufacturer websites for coupons or rebates that may make the cost of using one product less expensive than another. Calculate the cost of any dietary supplements or other foods you'll need to purchase to add vitamins and minerals to your diet if you use one product vs. another.
Claims and Reviews
Read consumer reviews of each products. Look for independent reviews on websites that do not sell the product. Some websites that sell products include positive and negative reviews. You may find comments on taste, timely delivery of products, ease of cooking and other helpful information. Check to see if any diet pills you're considering have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which verifies manufacturer claims.
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