Self Help Programs - Weight Loss Programs: Obesity

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Self-help programs

These nonprofit programs have local chapters around the country. They make no promises that they will help you lose any weight. However, they aim to improve your odds of doing so by holding regular (usually weekly) meetings where members share success stories and frustrations and offer one another encouragement and personal tips. Meetings are run by volunteer group leaders. Each self-help program has a different focus.

Overeaters Anonymous. This is a 12-step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous for people who suffer from compulsive overeating. The main purpose of the meetings is to help people stop overeating by exploring their underlying emotional issues. Overeaters Anonymous has chapters around the world. It is free, although members are asked to contribute what they can. A special feature of the program is a buddy system in which you have another member to call if you feel the urge to overeat. Whether this approach is appropriate or effective for overeaters remains controversial.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS). This program takes a practical approach, giving members incentives to follow whatever diet plan has been recommended by their health care practitioners. One program that TOPS recommends is the "exchange" diet established by the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association, but TOPS asks that members check with their doctors first.

Upon joining, members record their weight and then compete to see who can lose the most. Winners get rewards. Weekly meetings begin with members weighing themselves (although not necessarily revealing their weight to the group) and then discussing their successes and difficulties in reaching their weight-loss goals. Some chapters arrange for doctors, nutritionists, and other weight-loss experts to speak at meetings. TOPS also holds retreats and rallies to give members extra incentives to stay with their weight-loss plans.

TOPS charges an annual membership of $24, as well as dues. The dues vary from chapter to chapter, but are usually less than $5 per month. Members receive a monthly magazine that contains low-calorie recipes as well as inspirational stories by members who have met their weight-loss goals.

Last updated:	June 20, 2007