Weight Loss Programs: Obesity

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Weight-loss programs

Each year, millions of Americans enroll in weight-loss programs. These include well-known commercial programs such Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig and organized self-help programs such as Overeaters Anonymous. Fewer people may be familiar with medically supervised programs, which include hospital-based programs or individual care from a physician. Internet-based commercial weight-loss programs have grown in popularity.

The commercial programs charge a fee for meetings. They offer nuts-and-bolts diet and exercise regimens and, in some cases, sell prepared foods and diet aids. The self-help programs tend to focus mainly on providing emotional support and encouragement in sticking with a weight-loss plan. Clinical programs, which are provided through a doctor's office or hospital clinic, offer comprehensive diet, exercise, and behavior-modification programs, supplemented as needed with prescription treatments, such as very low-calorie diets, weight-loss medications, and, increasingly, surgery.

It's important to note that none of the programs can guarantee that you will lose a particular amount of weight. With the exception of the clinical programs, these approaches are adjuncts to, not substitutes for, professional guidance for those who need it. Indeed, the self-help and commercial plans encourage participants to consult with health care professionals about weight-loss strategies. Here is a description of the various categories of weight-loss programs, what you can expect from them, and their relative costs.

Last updated:	June 20, 2007