fresh vegetables and fruits per day. The nutrient ratios
in NutriSystem’s prepackaged foods are about 55%
carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 20%fats. About 5%
of the calories come from trans fats or saturated fats.
Thesodiumcontent is kept below the recommended
daily limit for adults. None of the six programs are
very low-calorie diets (VLCDs); they allow a total
intake of about 1200 calories per day for women and
1500 for men. Most dieters will lose one to two pounds
per week if they stick to the plan.
NutriSystem claims that its food selections are
based on the glycemic index (GI), which measures
foods by their effect on a person’s blood sugar level
within two hours after a meal. Foods ranked low on
the GI index raise blood sugar levels slowly and grad-
ually, thus allowing a dieter to feel satisfied for longer
periods of time. The company advertises this aspect of
the program as the ‘‘Glycemic Advantage.’’
The dieter’s first order arrives with a ‘‘Welcome
Kit’’ containing a meal planner, which outlines the
meals and snacks and includes a daily food diary for
keeping track of the dieter’s consumption of fresh foods
as well as the prepackaged items. The Welcome Kit
also explains the support services available, including
online chat groups, classes, newsletters, and the ‘‘Daily
Dose Motivational Message’’ as well as the option of
one-on-one telephone contact with a counselor.
The daily cost of the three prepackaged meals and
dessert is about $10, which means that the dieter must
allow close to $300 per month for the NutriSystem
program in addition to the cost of fresh dairy products
and produce. As of early 2007, the company is offering
7 days’ worth of meals with the first 28-day package.
In addition, customers who choose the auto-delivery
option for their second and subsequent deliveries get a
10-percent discount for each month they remain in the
program.Function
NutriSystem is intended as a moderately paced
weight reduction program for people who prefer the
convenience of prepackaged portion-controlled entrees,
whose schedules do not fit well with weigh-ins or group
meetings, who do not have time to cook or plan diet
menus, or who simply prefer to diet at home. It is not a
rapid weight loss program, detoxification diet, or total
lifestyle regimen.Benefits
Some people who have tried NutriSystem are
pleased with the range of food choices available as
well as liking the taste of the foods. One customersaid on a general diet weblog (not one sponsored by
NutriSystem), ‘‘I find the food very good and actually
good value considering all—I am never hungry and
enjoy this diet very much.’’ Another benefit mentioned
by some customers is that the food choices are well
within mainstream tastes; those who would feel intimi-
dated by a diet designed for ‘‘upscale’’ clients like the
familiarity of the NutriSystem options. One customer
remarked, ‘‘I do not have a sophisticated palate.... I
am a happy camper, and I can afford [NutriSystem].’’
Many customers state that the convenience of the
prepackaged foods is what appeals to them most. One
person acknowledged, ‘‘I am lazy... I love the box
arriving; the prep without thinking; the learning to eat
small portions.’’ The NutriSystem items can be easily
taken to work and consumed during lunch hour, since
they don’t require refrigeration. People who cook only
for themselves also mention the convenience of not
having a refrigerator full of leftovers, since the Nutri-
System items are one-meal portions.Precautions
A common criticism of the NutriSystem program
is that dieters do not learn to plan meals, gauge por-
tion size, or cook for themselves after they have lost
the desired amount of weight on the program. To
counter this criticism, the company published a book
in 2004 that contains recipes, tips for sizing portions,
and other advice about maintaining weight loss for
NutriSystem clients who are making the transition to
their own cooking and calorie counting.
The program also does not place much emphasis
on exercise; in fact, some of the advertising copy for
the men’s program contains such remarks as ‘‘When-
ever you get low on NutriSystem meals and snacks,
another batch arrives at your door. You don’t even
have to leave that comfortable chair in your living
room.’’—hardly an incentive to physical activity.
Another difficulty some clients have with the
NutriSystem program is that it does not fit well into
family meals unless everyone in the household is using
the program. Many customers report that they must
prepare a second meal for the rest of the family—a
common source of temptation to go off the diet.Risks
The NutriSystem program seems safe from a
nutritional standpoint for most dieters who have had
a medical checkup for previously undiagnosed condi-
tions or food allergies. It does not depend on appetite
suppressants, fasting, or other practices that may be
dangerous to health.NutriSystem