The Jenny Craig weight-loss program sells a variety of prepared meals and snacks, and provides free online registration so you can gather recipes and tips, and participate in a community forum. The program also offers fee-based options in which you can work with a diet counselor. The program is effective for some people, but has certain negative aspects as well.
Frozen Meals
The main feature of the Jenny Craig weight-loss program is its prepared meals, most of which are frozen, according to the Every Diet website. The diet is designed to include about 60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent protein and and 20 percent fat, and the meals are low in calories. You might feel hungry on this diet because of the low-calorie meal content. In addition, some people do not like eating prepackaged and frozen meals. The program also does not have a vegan option.
Duration
A study published online by "Nutrition Journal" on November 24, 2008, explored some psychological aspects of obese people and their difficulty with weight loss. During interviews, 17 percent of the individuals expressed a negative opinion about the length of time they would need to stay on the Jenny Craig program to lose a substantial amount of weight. Research appearing in the February 2007 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity" found that it took 52 weeks for Jenny Craig clients to lose an average of 15.6 percent of their initial body weight. This means it would take a 200-lb. woman a year to lose about 31 lbs. and get down to about 168 lbs.
Cost
Although the company has changed online registration from fee-based to free, clients still must purchase the prepared foods from a Jenny Craig weight-loss center. The official website does not list prices for the counseling programs, and encourages the visitor to call a toll-free number for information. The website states that Jenny Craig clients spend $1 a day more, on average, for the prepared meals than the typical American spends on food. Every Diet explains that you also need to supplement the Jenny Craig meals with fresh produce and low-fat dairy items. In addition, some people may find it difficult to maintain their weight loss and control their calorie intake when they stop receiving Jenny Craig prepackaged meals, as noted by Every Diet. Only the fee-based plans offer assistance with transitioning to your own menus. There is no money-back guarantee.
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