• Do you want to drive to a weight loss center for a meeting

• How much do you want to spend?

• What kind of food do you prefer – grocery store food, company diet food, liquid shakes?

• Do you want counseling support via a group situation or one-on-one?

• Do you have any food allergies or sensitivities?

• How many pounds do you have to lose?

• Do you have medical conditions such as diabetes?

• Do you need a diet plan that incorporates exercise?

• How do you feel about taking prescription diet drugs, vitamin injections, or supplements?

• Would you like diet food delivered to your home?

• Do you want meals and menus prepared for you, or will you do the cooking yourself?

• What kind of weight loss program worked for you in the past?

• Do you have access to a computer and the Internet?

Below are the main categories of weight loss programs out there.

Commercial Chains

Commercial weight loss programs offer an array of support options and tools. Many of these weight loss programs include weight loss counseling, support groups, diet plans with menus and much more. While commercial weight loss programs offer significant value, they can be rather expensive. Some examples:

Weight Watchers International
Jenny Craig
Inches-A-Weigh Weight Loss Centers
Diet Center (Health Management Group)
LA Weight Loss Centers
Medifast
Metabolic Research Centers
Before and After Weight Loss Clinics

Medically Supervised Programs

Medically Supervised Programs is a broad category that describes weight loss programs that are supervised by a heath care professional, such as physicians, a registered dietitian or nutritionist. Some of these weight programs may include healthy diets, prescription drugs, nutritional counseling and even weight loss surgery. Some examples:

Registered Dietitian plans
Nutritionist plans
Lindora Medical Clinics
Physicians Weight Loss Centers (Health Management Group)
Bariatrician program - using very low calorie diets, Rx drugs, counseling, etc.
Bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, lapband surgery)
Physician plan - using prescription weight loss drugs like Xenical, Meridia, Phentermine
Health Management Resources (HMR) (modified liquid fasting plan)
Optifast (Novartis) (modified liquid fasting plan)
Medibase (modified liquid fasting plan)
Medifast (modified fasting plan)
Robard Corp. (modified liquid fasting plan)
Hospital-based programs (not VLCD) (i.e. proprietary program developed by local hospitals, plan based on: counseling by a dietitian, exercise on-site, behavior modification)

Self-Help, Do-it-Yourself Weight Loss Plans

Self-help weight loss programs are an inexpensive way for many to lose weight. These do-it-yourself programs offer retail weight loss meal replacement products including meal replacement shakes, nutrition bars and non-prescription appetite suppressant pills. Some examples:

Slim-Fast

Herbalife

Internet-Based Weight Loss Programs

Internet-based weight loss programs offer the freedom of a self-help weight loss program with more support. Many of these Internet-based weight loss programs send you e-mails, newsletters and online weight loss tips to help you stay on track. Some examples:

NutriSystem
Lindora Online
ChangeOne.com (from Readers Digest)
Weight Watchers Online (WeightWatchers.com)
eDiets.com
Diet.com
CaloriesCount.com
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic
DietWatch.com
Dietsite.com
iShape (Shape Magazine plan)
Allrecipes.com
Before and After Weight Loss Clinics

Celebrity Programs & Diet Bestseller Books (includes infomercials)

Celebrity programs and bestseller diet books are weight loss programs sponsored by high-profile celebrities, physicians and other weight loss professionals. Many of these weight loss experts write diet books that offer valuable weight loss solutions. Other celebrities offer weight loss programs via infomercials. Some examples:

Dr. Atkins
Bill Phillips (Body for Life)
Richard Simmons
Suzanne Somers (Somersizing)
The Zone (Barry Sears)
The South Beach Diet (Dr. Arthur Agatston)
Dr. Dean Ornish
Sugar Busters
The Blood Type Diet
Protein Power (Drs. Eades)
Dr. Andrew Weil

Health Club-Based Weight Loss Programs

Health club-based weight loss programs use a combination of exercise, personal training, nutritional counseling, supplements and weight loss support. Many of these weight loss programs include a personal trainer, dietitian and weight loss counselor at an additional price. Some examples:

24 Hour Fitness
Bally’s
Curves for Women
YMCA

Residential Facilities

Residential facilities offer very comprehensive weight loss programs and train you how to prepare healthy diets. They are sometimes called weight loss spas. Many of these weight loss programs offer exercise, behavioral, genetic profiling and nutrition components that are designed to help achieve long-term weight loss success. Some examples:

Duke University Medical Center
Hilton Head
Pritikin Longevity Center
Green Mountain at Fox Run
Structure House

Worksite & Corporate Wellness Programs

Worksite/corporate wellness programs offer weight loss at the workplace. Many of these corporate weight loss programs give employees the opportunity to receive wellness advice without having to interfere with employees’ demanding schedules. Some examples:

Wellness Councils of America
Think Light