Advertising executives want you to believe their weight loss programs work. As evidence, most marketing campaigns include participant testimonials, success statistics and pretty pictures, all of which seem to support a high success rate. A look underneath these claims, however, reveals a fine-print "results not typical" disclaimer, leaving you wondering whether any weight loss programs really work. Keeping in mind that much of the success of any program depends on your level of commitment, there are facts and criteria you can use to evaluate whether weight loss programs might work for you.
Structure
The structure of the program itself may be an indication of whether it will work. According to a February 2010 report in the research journal "Appetite," the more complex a weight loss program is, the less chance it has of working. Researcher Jutta Mata states that a variety of rules, calculations and tracking requirements often work to undermine even individuals with the best of intentions. In contrast, simple programs that provide items such as meal plans, shopping lists and easy ways to monitor food intake are often more successful.
Support
Weight loss programs offering group support, via discussion and activity sessions, may be more effective in helping you lose weight than going it alone. As evidence, the results of a 2003 randomized trial led by Stenley Heska, PhD, show an average of 10 lb. of initial weight loss with group support compared to an average of 3 lb. using self-help. In addition, study results show that while self-help did not result in permanent weight loss, individuals participating in group support were able to maintain more than 50 percent of weight loss for at least two years.
The Long-Term
If you use short-term weight loss as the only criteria for determining the overall success of weight loss programs, many will appear to work. Factoring in how well these programs help you maintain weight loss, however, may change the picture. In a study published in 2005 in the "Annals of Internal Medicine," researchers Dr. Adam Gilden Tsai and Thomas A. Wadden, PhD, report on long-term success rates of a number of commercial weight loss programs. Results of their research show there is a strong likelihood you will gain back about 50 percent of your weight loss within one to two years after enrolling in a weight loss program -- although more research is necessary to fully substantiate this claim.
Evaluation Criteria
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, identifies a number of criteria you can use to evaluate whether a weight loss program may work for you. Information you can get from staff members includes the attrition rate for the program, average weight loss among those who finish, the percentage of people experiencing health concerns or side effects as well as what these problems entail and a complete list of the costs, including fees, food and supplements. In addition, verify the qualifications of staff members, get information on menus and methods of food selection and make sure the program involves long-term assistance and follow-up.
References
- "Appetite"; When Weight Management Lasts. Lower Perceived Rule Complexity Increases Adherence; Jutta Mata, Peter M. Todd, Sonia Lippke; September 2009
- Science Daily: Sticking to Diets is About More Than Willpower-Complexity Matters
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Weight Loss with Self-Help Compared with a Structured Commercial Program; Stenley Heska, PhD et al; 2003
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; Systematic Review: An Evaluation of Major Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the United States; Dr. Adam Gilden Tsai, Thomas A. Wadden PhD; January 2005
- The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute/National Institutes of Health: Selecting a Weight Loss Program
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