Medifast Weight Loss, Of the Most Common Weight-loss Programs
Of the Most Common Weight-loss Programs, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, and Medifast, which is the most effective?
Introduction
Obesity is a chronic, complicated, and multifactorial disorder (1, 2). The WHO has now
declared obesity as a global epidemic, calculating that there will be 2.3 billion overweight and
over 700 million obese adults by the year 2015 (3). If the obesity epidemic continues at this rate
it is estimated there will be almost 9 in 10 adults will be overweight or obese by the year 2050
(4). It is well established that obesity is associated with considerable health consequences, which
include: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers (5-7). Excessive weight currently
accounts for 44% of the global burden of diabetes, 23% of coronary heart disease, and 7-41% of
some cancers (8). Along with health consequences, obesity also has financial implications to
health services and poses as a pronounced threat to public health (9-10).
Main Findings
With the rise in obesity, one avenue that individuals combat their weight is through
weight-loss programs (11). Through media advertising the North American weight-loss industry
has reached $50 billion dollars annually, encompassing claims of products and programs that
promise quick, easy, and long-lasting results (2, 12-13). To help increase the popularity of the
weight-loss industry, celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Hudson, Melissa Joan Hart, and
Mariah Carey have joined to show the world what program they use to lose weight (14-16). It
has been found that two-thirds of adults in Western populations are trying to lose weight or avoid
weight gain (3). Recently, surveys reported that approximately 30-40% of adults are concerned
with their weight and report using structured diet (liquid diet supplements, commercial weightloss
diets, or a special diet) to manage weight (3). Some of the most common weight-loss
programs today are Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Medifast, and Nutrisystem.
Background of Weight-loss Programs
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers was established in 1961 by Jean Nidetch, after inviting some friends
over each week to talk about their weight, and feelings about food, this setting of mutual support
and understanding helped the women begin to lose weight (14, 17-20). Today, Weight Watchers
is the world’s largest support group for weight-loss, hosting over 1.5 million members with over
50,000 meetings in over 30 countries worldwide (14, 19, 21). Weight Watchers focus is being
behavioral orientated by including four central aspects: a food plan, an activity plan, a behavior
modification plan that uses cognitive reconstructing, and group support (22-23). Today, the heart
of Weight Watchers is its food point system; foods are assigned points depending on the calories
and fat grams, which increase point value, and fiber grams, which decrease point value, and then
each member is given a range of allowable daily points (14,18, 24). Along with food points,
physical activity is encouraged, and members can earn points with exercise that they can use
against food points (22). This points system is designed to encourage moderate energy deficit,
and weight-loss up to 2lbs/week (22-23). As part of the program, members attend weekly
meetings (30-45 minutes), determine their goal weight, participate in a private weigh-in’s, and
receive informational materials through weekly meetings and eTools (14, 18, 21-23).
Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig was established in 1983 by Australians Sid and Jenny Craig with a mission
to help their clients achieve their weight management goals through a behavioral change
approach, which includes healthy eating, an active lifestyle, and a balanced approach to living
(16-17, 25-26). The Jenny Craig program offers two plans, Jenny In Center and Jenny Anywhere
with weight management recommendations that are developed by registered dietitians in
consultation with a multidisciplinary medical advisory board to help participants lose 1-2 pounds
per week (16, 26-27) through an energy-reduced diet of 1200-2000 kcal/day. These plans include
prepackaged food items with meals incorporating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to decrease
energy density of the diet (20, 25). The Jenny Craig program membership also includes weekly
one-on-one meetings with trained consultants who help to tailor the program to the members’
food, menu, and physical activity (16, 25, 27). The physical activity goals are usually to achieve
150+ minutes/week of physical activity (25, 27).
Medifast
Medifast was established in 1980 by Dr. William Vitale of John Hopkins Hospital, who
was using his precise formulated meal replacements (MRs) for his patients that needed to lose
life-saving weight (28-29). The Medifast program is a low-calorie meal plan that is composed of individual MRs packets, which are nutrient dense and fortified with 24 vitamins and minerals
(28) that are mixed with water and refrigerated or microwaved (30). The program is assessed by
a scientific advisory board, which reviews the effectiveness, safety, and nutritional benefits of
products and programs (28). Medifast offers its members 6 weight-loss plans (28, 30). The 5 &1
plan (800-1000kcal/day) (28, 30-31), the most popular Medifast weight-loss plan consists of
eating 6 meals a day with a maximum of 45 minutes of exercise per day: 5 Medifast meals each
ranging from 90-110 calories, low in fat, low on the glycemic index, provide an approximate 1:1
ratio of carbohydrates to proteins, and are either soy or whey protein based (29, 31), and one lean
and green meal created by the member. The lean and green meal is composed of a lean meat plus
a salad or vegetables, which can be consumed anytime throughout the day. Members also have
the option to visit a Medifast Weight Control Center that offers weekly-individualized
counseling, and support with medical oversight (29, 31).
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem is a program based on (MRs), which serve as the core of the home-based
program and are available to purchase online or by telephone (15, 26). This program was
designed by an advisory council of physicians, and leading obesity researchers over 40 years,
and is tailored for the busy, on-the-go client (15, 26). The Nutrisystem membership offers seven,
28-day food package options to choose from, which revolve around the glycemic index (32).
Also, included in the membership are the internet-education based components (15, 26).
Nutrisystem is a program that revolves around the glycemic index (32), which was initially
established to help improve blood glucose control in people with diabetes. The glycemic index
categorizes carbohydrate-containing foods according to their likelihood of raising blood sugar levels. Foods that have a low glycemic index ranking claim to make a person feel fuller longer,
and balance blood sugar (32).
Safety of Program
Research has found that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the federal agency that is
responsible for protecting consumers who use commercial diets, has very few federal regulations
for shielding consumers from false dieting claims (33). Due to the FTC’s insufficient
regulation’s to require the diet industry to disclose the known risks associated with dieting or
provide accurate information to consumers (33), the safety of commercial weight-loss diets is
unknown. For consumers to determine the safety of a commercial weight-loss program it is best
to find a program that helps the individual keep the weight off for the long-term along with
guidance on to how to develop healthier eating and physical activity habits and ongoing Read More... Next Page|1|...|
