While some people can lose weight with little effort or help, others require ongoing assistance to reach their goals. This is especially true of many obese or extremely overweight individuals, who must overcome years of poor eating habits and other unhealthy practices like inadequate exercise. Weight-loss programs are an option for anyone who struggles to change long-term behavior and slim down permanently.
Significance
Weight-loss programs fall into two basic categories: clinical and nonclinical. Both types of programs aim to help participants lose weight by providing structured assistance. The help offered by weight-loss programs includes trained staff capable of delivering support and guidance, meal plans tailored to fit your specific needs and literature on the requirements for successful weight loss. No matter which kind of program you select, you should consult your regular health care provider continually to monitor your health and give you additional information about the challenges and medical risks involved.
Clinical Programs
Clinical weight-loss programs are available in health care environments such as medical clinics and hospitals. One major difference between clinical and nonclinical programs is the degree of employee training. Staff members of clinical programs are often formally educated, licensed medical professionals like nurses, registered dietitians and physicians. They provide services that typically include behavior therapy and nutrition counseling. More intensive programs offer participants advanced weight-loss options, including prescription-strength medications for losing weight, and bariatric surgery to decrease stomach size and help them eat less.
Nonclinical Programs
Most nonclinical weight-loss programs are privately owned commercial businesses and franchises. Well-known examples of nonclinical programs in the United States include Jenny Craig and NutriSystem. Although nonclinical programs may have group components, such as support group meetings, members can usually follow these programs on their own. Even when participants decide to lose weight independently, they still have access to important program features, including print and online literature, counseling and specially developed products.
Considerations
People who decide to join a weight-loss program should make sure their choice can help them slim down safely. Some clinical programs intended for very heavy individuals require following an uncommonly restrictive eating plan, such as a low-calorie diet of 1,000 calories per day or a very low-calorie diet of 800 calories per day. It is especially important for those who run these programs to have medical backgrounds and extensive training to continually monitor and protect the health of participants. Although nonclinical programs do not restrict calories as severely, the information they provide through counseling and literature should come from licensed health professionals.
References
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Jenny Craig Diet; Maria Adams; 2008
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; NutriSystem Diet; Maria Adams; 2010
- TeensHealth: Weight Loss Surgery
- UCLA Health System: Low Calorie Diet (LCD)
- UCLA Health System: Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD)
- WIN; Weight Loss for Life; January 2009
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