The weight loss market continues to expand, fueled by technological advancements that offer diverse avenues for individuals seeking to manage their weight. Choosing the right weight loss program can be a daunting task. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of top doctor weight loss programs, encompassing various approaches, from lifestyle changes to medical interventions, to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding the Landscape of Weight Loss Programs
Weight loss programs are designed to help individuals adhere to specific eating patterns and foster long-term lifestyle modifications with the goal of sustainable weight management. A "diet" refers to the specific eating plan within a program or a person's general eating habits.
According to Evan M. Forman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center) at Drexel University, a program assists you in sticking to a diet. Reduced calorie, balanced calorie deficit, low fat, low carb, plant-based, and Mediterranean diets have all been assessed and compared, Forman says, who is also a professor of psychology and brain sciences. The best strategy will vary depending on the individual, while all of these approaches can be equally effective, according to research. The most important thing is to choose a dietary pattern that is both satisfying and sustainable over time.
Key Components of Effective Weight Loss Programs
When evaluating weight loss programs, consider the following crucial factors:
- Personal Appeal: The program should align with your preferences and include foods you enjoy while maintaining a balanced nutritional profile.
- Sustainability: Avoid programs promising quick fixes. Instead, prioritize those that integrate seamlessly into your life and promote gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes, focusing on nutrition and adopting healthy habits incrementally.
- Goal Setting and Tracking: Effective programs provide nutrition education, assist in setting realistic weight, activity, and energy intake goals, and facilitate easy tracking of progress, including comprehensive food logging. Aim for a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.
- Cultural Competence: Jamie Mok, registered dietitian nutritionist and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, advocates for culturally competent weight loss programs to enhance long-term adherence and success by incorporating cultural foods that directly impact a person’s adherence, sustainability and overall wellbeing.
- Counseling and Support: Programs with counselors who can assist in building new diet and exercise habits are more effective. Structured, intensive programs with expert coaches who meet regularly provide skills training, problem-solving strategies, and accountability.
- Qualified Professionals: Ensure the program includes guidance from licensed, registered dietitians (RDNs) and certified obesity specialists, rather than unqualified "weight loss experts." RDNs are trained to provide science-based, individualized nutrition advice.
- Physical Activity Integration: Exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy weight and mitigating muscle mass loss during weight loss.
- Medical Interventions: Any legitimate medical weight loss program today should offer FDA-approved, brand-name GLP-1 therapies - like Wegovy or Zepbound - when appropriate, says McGowan.
- Maintenance Plan: A comprehensive program emphasizes sustainable weight management, not just initial weight loss, equipping individuals with strategies and support to prevent weight regain.
- Medical Leadership: Programs vetted by leading nutrition experts and health organizations demonstrate robust scientific backing.
Weight Loss Programs to Consider
WeightWatchers (WW)
WeightWatchers Points Program assigns every food a “Point value” based on calories, protein, added sugar, saturated fat, unsaturated fat, unsaturated fat and fiber, Michelle Cardel, Ph.D., dietitian and Chief Nutrition Officer at WeightWatchers, tells TODAY.com. The program assigns point values to foods based on their nutritional content, encouraging healthier choices. With a personalized Points Budget, calculated based on their individual metabolic rate, determined by age, height, weight, sex assigned at birth and goals. Participants need to stay within their points budget to lose weight. The program offers support through app features and a members-only social network.
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Pros:
- No food or beverages are off limits.
- Over 350 low-calorie but filling foods that don’t have to be tracked.
- Easier than other programs to sustain long term.
- Personalized nutrition counseling with dietitians and in-app social network.
- Food scanner and recipe analyzer.
- 24/7 virtual chat to share tips, recipes and solutions for common challenges.
Cons:
- Weekly recommended weight checks may feel stressful.
- Possibly too lenient for some people struggling with self-control.
- Food-tracking and counting points can feel time-consuming.
- Regular changes to program due to changing science may feel frustrating.
Mayo Clinic Diet
The Mayo Clinic Diet focuses on eating healthy foods by teaching how to estimate portion sizes and plan meals while increasing physical activity. The diet emphasizes healthy eating habits, portion control, and physical activity. Digital resources, including food tracking, group coaching, meal plans and recipes, and other educational tools, are also available. The diet is divided into two phases: The first is called “Lose It!” and the second is called “Live It!”“In the two-week ‘Lose It!’ phase, participants change 15 habits, and in the ‘Live It!’ phase, people take these habits and turn them into a long-term change program,” Hensrud explains.The program now offers eight meal plans to personalize the weight loss journey, including a “freestyle” plan, as well as Mediterranean, protein, keto, vegetarian and one for those on GLP-1s.One new feature is the Mayo Clinic Diet Score, a 100-point scoring system based on your current habits and behaviors. The higher your score, the more potential for weight loss over the long term.
Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)
The DPP, supported by the Centers for Disease Control, is a lifestyle change program designed to prevent type 2 diabetes. The lifestyle change program helps participants eat healthier, get more physical activity, manage stress, and cope with life’s challenges that can make it difficult to stay on track. Participants have access to CDC-approved resources, support groups, and a lifestyle coach to help them build healthy habits that last a lifetime, he adds. The program is divided into two parts with a CDC-approved curriculum. The first six months, you are meeting approximately once a week, where people learn to eat healthy, add more physical activity to their lifestyle, learn to deal with stress and challenges in life that can disrupt your progress.The second half, you meet less frequently and focus on maintaining the lifestyle changes you made. You work with a “lifestyle coach” and have peer support to motivate you.
TOPS Club
TOPS Club connects people of all backgrounds through a network of weight‐loss support groups. There’s no official diet to follow, but many follow the Food Exchange System, created by the American Diabetic Association, Ganley notes. People are expected to continue in the program and participate weekly, even after they reach their goal weight. People who participate in the TOPS program for at least one year can lose up to 5-7% of their initial weight and maintain the weight loss for up to seven years.
Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig users first choose among several meal plans, including:Jenny Craig plan: two-week shipments of meals under 300 calories, including 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners and 14 snacks and deserts. You can either customize or choose from customer favorites.Club Jenny: a “DIY” choice that gives full access to the Jenny Craig plan, complementing those who choose their own weight loss methods, like intermittent fasting and low carb.Meal Delivery Plan: 14 breakfasts and 14 entrées every two weeks, plus full access to Club Jenny for six months.
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem delivers meals and snacks to your home. You then follow their app to know exactly what to eat and when (usually six times a day, which includes “grocery add-ins,” like low-fat plain yogurt and apple slices…
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NYU Langone Weight Management Program
NYU Langone offers comprehensive medical and nonmedical weight loss programs, including meal replacement programs and exercise guidance. Their nonsurgical medical weight loss methods focus on proper nutrition, physical activity, and making healthier lifestyle choices. They work with you and your primary care physician, exercise experts, nutritionists, psychologists, and other specialty providers as necessary. A new GLP-1 Weight Loss Program is designed to complement the use of GLP-1 medications typically prescribed for the management of diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The program integrates the use of meal replacement products, which contain prebiotic fiber and probiotics to help manage medication side effects such as nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort, along with ingredients to help maintain and build muscle.
UCLA Medical Weight Management Program
The UCLA Medical Weight Management Program offers individualized nutrition therapy for weight loss. The centerpiece of our dietary program is to match each patient’s protein intake to the individualized protein their body needs. The scientific literature supports this approach to control hunger and give patients the best opportunity to lose weight without losing muscle. At the initial visit, all patients undergo a comprehensive assessment. We collect the following information in order to develop personalized weight loss programs:Initial measurements: Weight, vital signs, body composition (measuring lean muscle and body fat via bioimpedence analysis)Testing: Blood tests (comprehensive metabolic panel and lipid panel) and EKGPhysician (+/- dietitian) visit: Weight history, eating habits, medication review, detailed nutrition planDietary programsOur dietary programs fit into four broad categorizes, but they are personalized for each patient based on food preferences and body composition testing. To attain low calorie intake with adequate protein, meal replacements (e.g. protein shakes, bars, soups) are frequently used. We have a wide variety of products available for purchase.The four broad dietary programs include:Very low-calorie diet (VLCD): Meal replacements plus vegetablesModified very low-calorie diet (MVLCD): Meal replacements plus one meal per dayLow calorie diet (LCD): Some meal replacements with mostly whole foodMaintenance program: Some meal replacements with mostly whole foods.
Inova Medical Weight Loss Program
At Inova, we understand that every individual weight loss journey is unique. We strive to offer the most comprehensive services to support any weight loss journey. Our medical weight loss program is directed by our board-certified bariatrician. Our educational component, provided by highly experienced and trained weight loss professionals, provides you with expert advice on essential weight-loss strategies.
Medical Interventions for Weight Loss
Medically Supervised Weight Loss Programs
Physician-supervised weight-loss programs are one-on-one treatment options that take place in a medical office. The costs of these programs vary depending on the services offered. Pre-packaged meal replacement plans are a medically supervised weight-loss program. They use meal replacement options along with lifestyle modifications and behavior change counseling to help people reach and maintain their weight-loss and health goals. Individuals who are interested in starting a supervised weight-loss program must do so through an HCP. A medically supervised weight-loss program has individualized phases. The phases generally begin with meal replacements and transition to the use of self-prepared foods for long-term weight-loss. These programs also include guidance from a team of HCPs, access to group or individual counseling, and other support options.
Prescription Weight-Loss Medications
The FDA has approved seven prescription medications for use in people with a BMI more than 30 or a BMI more than 27 when a patient has additional obesity-related conditions. The average weight-loss resulting from prescription weight-loss drugs is 5-21% of your starting weight.
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Phentermine
Phentermine is a prescription-only weight-loss medication that has been FDA-approved since 1959. It works by acting on chemicals in your brain to decrease your appetite and contains a mild stimulant to boost energy levels. On average, individuals lose about 4-5% of their initial weight after one year.
Orlistat (Alli®, Xenical®)
Orlistat is available over-the-counter as alli® and is also available in a higher dose prescription called Xenical®. Both are FDA-approved for weight-loss and work by decreasing the amount of fat your body absorbs. It is taken three times daily before meals containing dietary fat. Orlistat only allows your body to absorb two-thirds of the calories from the fat you consume. On average, individuals lose about 5% of their initial body weight.
Contrave®
Contrave® was FDA-approved in 2014 and combines two medications, Naltrexone and Buproprion, which were previously approved for other medical conditions.
Qsymia®
This combination medication was approved by the FDA in 2012. Qsymia® is a weight-loss drug initially approved by the FDA in 1959. Traditionally, Qsymia® is used to prevent migraines and seizures. At the lower dose, 62% of individuals on Qsymia® lost 5% of their starting weight, which is approximately a 10-pound weight-loss for a person weighing 200 pounds.
Saxenda®
Saxenda® is an injectable medication approved by the FDA in 2014 to treat type 2 diabetes. It works by increasing the body’s natural production of insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Wegovy®
Wegovy® is an injectable prescription medicine designed for adults with obesity or excess weight who also have weight-related medical problems, aiming to help with weight-loss. It is a glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that is engineered in the laboratory. In the Wegovy® STEP studies, the average weight-loss ranged from 15 to 17% of the participant’s starting weight. For someone weighing 230 pounds, this equates to 35 to 39 pounds lost.
Zepbound®
Zepbound® is an injectable medication that mimics the naturally occurring GIP and GLP-1 hormones released by the intestines into the bloodstream within minutes after we ingest food. In four SURMOUNT studies of individuals taking Zepbound® for 72 to 88 weeks, the average weight-loss was 15-25% of the individual’s starting weight. This is a 30-50-pound weight-loss for someone weighing 200 pounds.
Alli®
Alli® is the only FDA-approved over-the-counter drug for weight-loss. It is not recommended for children under 18 years of age or adults with a BMI below 25. About 25% of the fat consumed isn’t absorbed, passing through as bowel movements. Alli® complements a healthy lifestyle, included a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate hydration by drinking plenty of water. The average weight-loss with alli® is about five to ten pounds over six months.
Mindful Eating and Nutrition Planning
Mindful eating is a cornerstone of care, discussing eating habits, triggers, and distinguishing between "head hunger" and true metabolic needs, as well as managing stress without food. Knowing how to read food labels and menus to find the best choices, as well as understanding food composition, plays a part in mindful eating. Registered dietitians teach you how to incorporate nutritional knowledge into your busy life while also balancing your family’s food preferences.
Self-Monitoring Tools
The bathroom scale, food diaries, and label reading can all help you reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight. We help you figure out which self-monitoring tools are best for you, and how often you should use them.
Exercise Guidance
Providers help you set exercise goals that are aligned with your current fitness level and that can be used at your local gym, at home, or in the community. We understand how difficult it can be to add regular physical activity into your busy lifestyle, so we also provide guidance that makes physical activity more enjoyable, and therefore easier to maintain as a healthy habit. Our recommendations are based on professional guidelines such as those from the American College of Sports Medicine.