Best Weight Loss Programs Of 2023
If you’re trying to lose weight but struggling to find a method that actually garners results, you may want to speak with your doctor about trying a commercial weight loss program. These programs typically provide structure in the form of prepackaged foods and/or meal plans, trackers and/or individual support.
While the efficacy of weight loss programs relies heavily on an individual’s health history and behavior, some weight loss programs are superior to others—especially when it comes to nutrition and the methods used to produce results. To that end, the editors at Forbes Health asked a panel of nutrition and weight loss experts for their top commercial weight loss programs. The top three programs on our list received two out of three recommendations, and the honorable mentions received at least one.
Read on to learn about the top weight loss programs, as recommended by our panel of experts.
Best Weight Loss Programs: Honorable Mentions
While our top three weight loss programs were all recommended by two out of three of our experts, there were a few honorable mentions that also made the cut, based on the recommendation of at least one panelist.
Whole 30
This 30-day elimination diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods and a 10-day re-introduction period. Its creators claim this short-term elimination can help with everything from digestive issues to energy levels. While Dr. Jampolis cautions that this restrictive way of eating is challenging to follow over the long term, she recommends it as a “reboot to get you off highly processed foods that have been linked to increased risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia and obesity.”
The New Mayo Clinic Diet
Developed by the prestigious medical institution it gets its name from, the The New Mayo Clinic diet is an updated digital version of its original weight loss program that claims to help provide “sensible and sustainable weight loss” via personalized meal plans, educational content, a food tracker and at home workouts. “This program is designed to help lose excess weight and find a healthy way of eating that is sustainable for a lifetime,” explains Dr. Wallace. “It also teaches [users] to enjoy good nutrition.
Jenny Craig
A meal delivery and one-on-one coaching service, Jenny Craig focuses on portion control and support to help users lose weight. “Research supports the idea of portion controlled food programs like Jenny Craig for weight loss, and even some degree of portion controlled prepared meals for weight maintenance,” explains Dr. Jampolis. Still, she cautions that while Jenny Craig may help some individuals with weight loss, the meals are “highly processed” and may not be the most nutrient dense way to lose weight in the long term. Additionally, Dr. Jampolis notes that the Jenny Craig weight loss program may be expensive for some people “and does not teach you how to control portions in the real world,” i.e., once you stop receiving the brand’s pre-portioned meals.
What Is a Commercial Weight Loss Program?
A commercialweight loss services typically includes resources such as clear guidelines, pre-packaged meals, individual support and a way to track progress around weight loss goals. When choosing a commercial program, it’s a good idea to ask yourself how important pre-packaged meals may be to your success, as many of the programs without a pre-packaged meal plan require planning, prepping and cooking daily.
Another important caveat about commercial weight loss programs is that many of them are not reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means their claims are unsubstantiated by a reliable third party.
Most people can safely lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week. If the commercial weight loss program you’re eyeing is promising anything more than that, it’s best to proceed with caution, or better yet, talk with your doctor.
How Effective Are Commercial Weight Loss Programs?
While not everyone needs a commercial weight loss program to lose weight, research shows that they can be effective. A smaller, 2022 study of more than 300 adults found that commercial weight loss programs like WW—which was the program used in the study and the program that provided funding—that require a reduced amount of personal dietary self-monitoring (i.e., the programs do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of food choices and meal planning) can produce “clinically significant weight loss[1].”
At the end of the day, the effectiveness of any weight loss program has a lot to do with the individual—especially when it comes to long-term weight loss, which is often much harder to achieve than those short-term results. Research shows that long-term weight loss often requires the individual to make both dietary and cognitive changes, which typically means a reframing around habits, food choices and expectations.