Sustainability: you should know whether you can stick to a diet just by looking at the meal plans. If it seems extreme, don't pursue it. If you're not sure, see your doctor.
The big four reviewed
So now you know what to look for in a responsible weight loss program, but how do you pick which one will suit you best? It takes a bit of trial and error, so do your research, check out the websites and make sure you're clear on all the costs up-front. The most popular programs are generally the best so we've outlined them below.
Weight Watchers (WW)
Overview: Based on its own nutritional points system, WW uses the same idea as counting calories. It allows you to eat a variety of foods, where each one has a number of points, as long as your daily intake comes in under a certain amount. This is determined by your body weight and how much you are trying to lose.
Good points: There are no 'forbidden' foods and you're not left hungry or lethargic. It's flexible enough to use every day and there are no special foods to buy. Weekly meetings and online services are available.
Drawbacks: Having to look up the 'value' of everything you put in your mouth can get annoying. As Greta, 35, says, "My whole life was consumed with WW. Unless you can memorise the points system, you're forever calculating your meals." The group meetings can also foster a competitive nature which is unhelpful to some.
Celebrity spruiker: Sarah Ferguson
Cost: Registration fee around $33, plus weekly meetings at $16 each.
Verdict: The Australian Consumers' Association (ACA) gives Weight Watchers the thumbs up. They say it's reasonably priced and educates the dieter on what nutritional value certain foods have.
Jenny Craig (JC)
Overview: JC promises ½-1kg weight loss per week if you follow the program correctly. Meals and menu plans are provided and you have to purchase the JC food. You can gradually replace their food with your own as you reach your goal weight.
Good points: Along with balanced food choices and portion control, the program emphasises the importance of tuning into physical/emotional eating cues. Exercise videos, cassettes and individual counselling sessions are available.
Drawbacks: They generally don't deliver meals to your home and the food can be expensive. Patricia, 40, says, "I was on the JC diet for three months and lost around eight kilos. I felt great, but got incredibly sick of the food."
Celebrity spruiker: Kirstie Alley
Cost: Memberships range from $150-$400. JC food is extra at around $12 per day.
Verdict: The ACA says Jenny Craig is okay — "It's nutritionally balanced and includes individual advice and counselling, but it's rather expensive."
SureSlim (SS)
Overview: The SS diet is based on the low GI concept. There's a range of programs which are tailored to people's needs by deciphering their blood type, health history, metabolism and make-up.
Good points: SS will get results and does teach dieters about portion control and healthy eating. Clients are also visited weekly by a SS consultant who ensures they're on track.
Drawbacks: It's relatively young, having started in 1996, so the long-term results haven't been studied. Dieters have also struggled with the lack of snacks. As Jane, 29, explains, "You're only allowed three meals a day and you must leave five hours between every meal."
Cost: Between $300 and $600.
Verdict: The general feedback so far seems to be that SureSlim is effective, but tough. It teaches you healthy eating lessons for life which is good because the actual diet is hard to sustain.
Lite n' Easy
Overview: Lite n' Easy prepare all your breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for you and deliver them to your door. The meals are calorie-controlled and pre-packaged so the thinking is done for you.
Good points: There's no time-consuming calorie counting, food weighing or guessing on fat content, and meals are nutritional and super-tasty. Phone support and printed info is provided.
Drawbacks: With the focus on food, exercise is left to the individual. Since all meals are prepared for you, dining out is difficult and people with families may find it expensive as they have to buy two lots of food.
Cost: The only overhead is the food, starting at around $107 a week.
Verdict: The ACA says Lite n' Easy is not bad — "A nutritionally balanced program which is expensive yet convenient. You need to focus on teaching yourself how to keep the weight off — the program doesn't do it for you."
Summing it up
Weight loss programs do work for some people, but they're not for everyone, so make sure you do your research thoroughly. Diets have the best chances of success if they feel natural, otherwise the weight loss is too difficult to maintain. Generally, a healthy eating plan combined with exercise and a fun attitude is the best weight loss program you can follow.
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