metabolic rhythm to burn calories
when it’s most effective. A weight
loss program for members with type
2 diabetes also is available.
CO S T: There’s an enrollment fee, as
well as a monthly fee. Interested cli-
ents will need to contact Jenny Craig
for specifics. The ready-to-eat foods
cost about $20 per day for breakfast,
lunch, dinner, and two snacks.
S U PP O R T: Although there are no
group meetings, the program offers
members ongoing personal support
through a dedicated consultant, who
has gone through an intensive training course designed by a sci-
ence advisory board, to become a certified consultant. Support
also is offered on Jenny Craig’s website and via social media
groups on Facebook where members support one another.
MAINTENANCE: Once a member reaches his or her goal
weight, Jenny Craig offers a maintenance program with a
maintenance menu. During this maintenance phase, members
continue to receive advice and motivation from their personal
consultant on how to transform their way of thinking about food
while still using Jenny Craig products.
RESEARCH: An unpublished study found that those on the
Rapid Results Program lost almost 40% more weight over
a four-week period than those on the regular Jenny Craig
program.
BOTTOM LINE: The Jenny Craig program offers convenience
and structure for people who’d prefer to have most everything
planned out and delivered. One-on-one counseling is available
in person with certified counselors or by phone.
WW
TD contacted Zoe Griffith, BSc, RD, global director of nutrition
with WW (formerly Weight Watchers), to discuss how the pro-
gram works. Established in 1963 in Queens, New York, WW
is the longest-running weight loss program of the group. WW
has gone through many changes over the years, but the one
constant has been the point system for tracking food intake
and, more recently, physical activity. WW has 4.6 million mem-
bers around the world.
WW offers three options—a digital membership (WW
app), weekly workshops plus the WW app, or personal
coaching and the WW app. Pricing varies, depending on
which option individuals select and the length of member-
ship. The average enrollment time is nine months. “Connect”
groups within the app were created last year. WW members
can join a Connect group based on criteria including inter-
ests, where they are in their weight-loss journey, and their
life stage. The WW program is based on three pillars: Food,
Activity, and Mindset. Food and beverage intake is managed
using SmartPoints, which are personalized for each member
depending on age, height, weight, and sex. Among the 200
zero-point foods are fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat sub-
stitutes. Points for all other foods and beverages are set
based on saturated fat, sugar, and protein content as well as
calories, enabling members to allocate points any way they
want. Members are also, based on their profile, given Fit-
Points for activity. WW has partnered with the Aaptiv app to
enable members to adapt activity to their lifestyle and adjust
it as they lose weight. The Headspace app, which provides
guided meditations, also is included. Weekly workshops are
led by trained laypeople to facilitate behavior changes. How-
ever, Griffith says that dietitians are an integral part of the
development and planning of the WW program.
CO S T: The cost varies widely, depending on the option chosen
and the length of time enrolled. If members sign up for three
months, prices range from $4.30 to $9.96 per week. Food
isn’t included.
S U PP O R T: Support is provided through the WW app 24/7 and
by counseling or weekly workshops, if enrolled.
MAINTENANCE: The SmartPoints budget in the app auto-
matically will change settings from “lose weight” to “healthy
habits,” and the daily SmartPoints Budget will increase.
RESEARCH: More than 90 clinical studies have been conducted
to evaluate the efficacy of the WW program. The most recent
was published in The Lancet in 2017 and showed that, over the
long term, the WW program was significantly more effective
than a physician-guided program. A 2013 study published in the
American Journal of Medicine found WW to be eight times more
effective than a do-it-yourself approach.
BOTTOM LINE: The focus of WW used to be on weight loss.
While that’s still an integral part of the program, the focus
now is on building healthful lifestyle habits. It isn’t the most
expensive program, but neither is it the least expensive. The
program would work well for clients and patients who feel the
point system gives them quantifiable daily or weekly food and
activity goals.OPTIFAST
Optifast programs have been established across the country
and may vary in terms of cost and setting. This is the only medi-
cally supervised program of those listed here. Established in
the mid-1970s in Cleveland, Optifast is a meal-replacement,
weight loss program provided only through doctors’ offices and
clinics and offers counseling with a dietitian. TD speaks with
Amy Pleimling, RD, LD, of Allina Health Hopkins Clinic’s Optifast30 today’s dietitian august 2019