In the United States of America, a hefty 65 percent of American adults rank as either overweight or obese. If you fight the flab and drop those excess pounds, you'll experience not just a slimmer reflection in the mirror, but also a lower risk of diseases like heart disease or diabetes. One of the fastest ways to lose weight is to change your diet, as what you eat directly affects the size of your waistline.
Jenny Craig
Nutritionists at Colorado State University recommend the Jenny Craig weight loss program, saying that it emphasizes behavior education and modification while encouraging followers to practice sound dietary skills. The program revolves around Jenny Craig-endorsed packaged foods, smart grocery shopping and regular exercise. Individual or group counseling and motivation sessions are also available.
eDiets
Some people can't be bothered with counting calories or spending hours in the kitchen cooking up meals from scratch. For them, eDiets may just save the day, offering pre-prepared fresh meals that arrive at their doorstep. Epicurious labeled it one of the best pre-prepared weight loss programs available based on factors such as food selection and flavor, and a dietitian reviewed by the publication said the diet followed sound principles.
Weight Watchers
The Weight Watchers program comes recommended by "Consumer Reports," which had 48 individuals test eight of America's most popular diets and compared their results, as well as comparing the diets' various principles against USDA advice. The diet focuses on Weight Watchers Points rather than calories, which may people to better track their food intake.
The Spark
The American Dietetic Association had a dietitian review The Spark diet, promoted by Chris Downie. The dietitian recommended the diet, saying that the average person can safely lose weight following Downie's principles. The diet focuses on four one-week stages designed around basic caloric restriction and increased exercise.
The Ornish Diet
For vegetarians, the Ornish weight loss program was the best out of eight popular diet programs, according to the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," better than other mainstream diets like The Zone diet. The diet eliminates full-fat dairy, all meats -- including fish -- and sugars, and instead directs the dieter to eat more vegetables, whole grains and beans.
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem is one of several weight loss programs that provide subscribers with pre-portioned, pre-cooked meals. It's best for people who don't want to bother with tracking calories, reports Colorado State University, which also praised its online resources including social support and counseling.
Slim-Fast Diet
The Slim-Fast diet requires followers to eat its Slim-Fast products, including its weight loss bars and weight loss shakes, along with low-calorie lunches and dinners as recommended by the company's dietitians. "Consumer Reports" ranks it as an effective weight loss program, saying it will help people to lose weight. However, its severe calorie restriction makes it less than ideal over the long term, specifically for people who are also exercising.
PureFoods Low Carb
The PureFoods low carbohydrate diet, formerly known as Atkins At Home, comes praised by Epicurious as one of the top pre-pared weight loss diet plans. A nutritionist interviewed by the publication says it can be effective, and will appeal most to low-carb lovers who enjoy their meats.
Overeaters Anonymous
The Overeaters Anonymous program specifically targets people who binge eat. It utilizes group meetings and a 12-step program that helps with behavior modification. Colorado State University's nutritionists praised it for its strong group support, the availability of online support resources, as well as the lack of expensive program fees.
New Glucose Revolution
The New Glucose Revolution weight loss regimen acts as one of the top weight loss programs for people combining diabetes, reports the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association." It requires people to focus on a food's glycemic index rather than strictly its caloric count. This index reflects how the food is metabolized and how it changes your blood sugar levels, which also affects food cravings and the urge to eat.
References
- Colorado State University Extension; Weight Loss Products and Programs; J. Anderson, et al.; December 2008
- "Epicurious"; Prepared Diet Food; Megan Steintrager
- "Consumer Reports"; Top Diets Reviewed; Editors of Consumer Reports; June 2007
- American Dietetic Association; The Spark; Ruth Frechman
- "Journal of the American Dietetic Association"; Deitary Quality Comparison of Popular Weight-Loss Plans; Yunsheng Ma, et al.; October 2007
- National Institutes of Health; Obesity/Overweight; August 2010
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