How to Choose a Weight-Loss Program

Some people lose weight on their own, while others like the support of a structured program. If you decide to join a weight-loss program, here are some questions to ask before you join:

• Does the program provide counseling to help you change your eating and activity habits? The program should teach you how to permanently change those eating and lifestyle habits, such as lack of physical activity, that have contributed to weight gain.
• Does the staff include qualified health professional, such as nutritionists, registered dietitians, doctors, nurses, psychologists, and exercise physiologists? Qualified professionals can help you lose weight safely and successfully. You need to be evaluated by a physician if you have any health problems, take or plan to take any medicine, or plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds. If your weight-control plan uses a very low-calorie diet (a special liquid formula that replaces all food for 1 to 4 months), you will also need an exam and follow-up visits by a doctor.
• Does the program offer training on how to deal with times when you may feel stressed and slip back into old habits? The program should provide long-term strategies for preventing and coping with possible weight problems in the future. These strategies might include setting up a support system and a regular physical activity routing.

• Do you help decide on food choices and weight-loss goals? In setting weight-loss goals, the program should consider your personal food likes and dislikes, as well as your lifestyle.
  

• Are there fees or costs for additional items, such as dietary supplements? You need to know the total costs of participating in the program.
• How successful is the program? Many programs don’t gather information on how well they work, but it is worthwhile to ask what percentage of people who start this program complete it, what percentage of people experience problems or side effects (and what are they), and what is the average weight loss among those who finish the program.

-from Everyday Health