Program Types

Types of Weight-Loss Programs

     To lose weight and keep it off, you should be aware of the different types of programs that are available and the important parts of what makes a good program. Knowing this information should help you to select or design a weight-loss program that will work for you. Typically there are three types of weight-loss programs which include: do-it-yourself programs, non-clinical programs, and clinical programs.

1) Weight Loss Programs - Do-It-Yourself
     Any effort to lose weight by yourself or with a group of others through support groups, worksite or community-based programs is what you would call "do-it-yourself" weight loss. Individuals using a do-it-yourself program have to rely on their own judgment, group support, and products such as diet books for their weight loss plans and advice.

2) Weight Loss Programs - Non-Clinical
     These non-clinical programs may or may not be commercially operated, such as through a privately-owned, weight-loss chain. Books and pamphlets that are prepared by health-care providers are often used in these programs. As well, counselors (who usually are not health-care providers and may or may not have training) are there to provide services to you. Some programs require participants to use the program's food. Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers are examples of this type of geographically-based weight loss program, although with the popularity that the Internet is gaining, they also have online weight plans.

3) Weight Loss Programs - Non-Clinical - Weight Loss Supplements
     Some weight loss programs require dieters to purchase higher-priced weight loss 'extras' like bars, shakes to supplement their weight loss. It should be noted that these weight loss supplement products are not necessary for healthy weight loss and may add considerably to the cost of the program.

4) Weight Loss Programs - Online
      There are a growing number of online weight loss programs, offering a variety of diet foods, online support groups, excercise regimes and online menus.

5) Weight Loss Programs - Clinical
     These types of programs may or may not be commercially owned. Services are provided in a health-care setting, such as a hospital, and by licensed health professionals, such as physicians, nurses, dietitians, and/or psychologists. In some clinical programs, a health professional may work alone; in others, a group of health professionals works together to provide services to their patients. Clinical programs may offer you services such as nutrition education, medical care, behavior change therapy, and physical activity plans.

     Clinical weight loss programs may also use other weight-loss methods, such as very low-calorie diets, prescription weight-loss drugs, and surgery, to treat severely overweight patients. These treatments are described in the following:

Weight Loss Programs - Clinical - Obesity Treatment

- Very low-calorie diets (VLCDs) are commercially prepared formulas that provide no more than 800 calories per day and are used to replace all normal food intake. VLCDs help individuals to lose weight more quickly than is usually possible only using low-calorie diets. VLCDs can cause side effects, therefore experts recommend that only people who are obese use these weight loss diet programs, and only do so with proper medical supervision.

- Prescription Weight Loss Drugs should be used only if you are likely to have health problems caused by your weight. Weight loss drugs should not be used to improve appearance. Prescribed weight-loss drugs, when combined with healthy weight loss diet programs which include regular physical activity, may help some obese people lose that health threatening weight.

- You may consider gastric surgery to promote weight loss if you are more than 80 pounds overweight. However, it is necessary that weight loss surgery patients follow specific post-operative weight loss programs and these should typically include specific eating plans and exercise routines.

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