Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

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Japanese dietseeAsian diet


Jenny Craig diet
Definition
Jenny Craig is a calorie-based three-stage lifestyle
weight-loss program that incorporates pre-packaged
food, transition to regular food, and long-term weight
maintenance.


Origins
Jenny Craig and her husband Sig Craig founded
Jenny Craig Weight Management Program in Aus-
tralia in 1983. The program has since expanded to
the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Puerto
Rico and offers both a center-based program and an
at-home program. Craig, who has no training as a
nutritionist, based her program on her own successful
experience with personalized weight loss. The pro-
gram has a medical advisory board consisting of at
least one physician, nutritionist, and behaviorist. Pre-
packaged meals are planned by a registered dietitian.


Description
The Jenny Craig program is a three-stage program.
In the first stage, dieters eat only Jenny Craig pre-
packaged foods that are supplemented with approved
fruits, vegetables, and non-fat dairy products. These
meals contain 50–60%carbohydrates,20-25%pro-
tein, and 20–25%fats, and contain between 1,200 and
2,500 calories daily. This generally is in line with the
federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. Vege-
tarian options are available. However, no other food is
permitted during the first stage of the program, which
can make eating away from home difficult. The pre-
packaged meals are intended to model healthy eating


and portion control. In the United States in 2007, the
cost of one month of pre-packaged meals was about
$500. A personalized exercise program supplemented
by optional workout videos and workout equipment
encourage the dieter to become more active.
Once dieters have used the pre-packaged meals to
become familiar with healthy foods and correct portion
sizes, they move to the second stage of the program in
which written material supported by consultants teach
techniques for healthy meal planning, cooking, and
eating out. This stage of the program is designed to
develop lifelong habits of moderation and good food
choices. The consultant also addresses behavioral
issues such as handling stress and emotional triggers
for eating.
The final stage of the Jenny Craig program is a
maintenance stage. Dieters move into this stage when
their weight-loss goal is met. This final stage is
designed to keep weight off for life.
Dieters can join the Jenny Craig program in one of
two ways. Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centers are phys-
ical locations that the dieter visits weekly for individ-
ual consultations with a Jenny Craig counselor.
Unlike some other center-based weight-loss programs
(e.g.Weight Watchers), Jenny Craig centers do not
offer group meetings. The philosophy behind the
Jenny Craig program is one-on-one weight loss help.
Dieters who live too far from a Jenny Craig center
or who do not wish to attend one can join Jenny
Direct. This is a complete at-home weight-loss pro-
gram. In the Jenny Direct program, pre-packaged
meals and weight-loss literature are delivered to the
dieter’s home. The dieter is supported by online tools
accessed through the Jenny Craig Web site and a
required private 15-minute telephone consultation
with a Jenny Craig consultant once a week. Consul-
tants do not have formal training in nutrition.
To join either Jenny Craig program, one must first
talk to a consultant by telephone. Several different
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