What is your diet plan doing for you or to you?

Weight Watchers has been evaluated in a number of clinical studies, and researchers conclude that it is an effective diet. The cost is also much less than other commercial programs that require the use of prepackaged foods, although the weekly fee can add up quickly. Weekly fees vary based on your location, but they average $13 to $15 per week plus an additional $20 for the shakes and snack bars. Weight Watchers focuses on in-person support and counting calories in the form of "points." better. Points Plus, as the new system is called, puts more focus on whole foods and fresh produce, which nutritionists say is a great improvement. However, many long-term members are annoyed that they need to relearn the point values of their favorite foods; some resources, including cookbooks, may also be outdated.

Pros
Effective in clinical studies
Prepackaged food not required
Flexible plans
New focus on whole foods

Cons
Point system overhaul angers some long-time members
Cost can add up quickly



Slim-Fast shakes (or bars) are nutritionally sound, and the plan produces weight loss -- at least in the short term. The biggest downside of the Slim-Fast plan is most people can't adhere to it for longer than a few months. Following the full diet plan requires two shakes or bars per day, along with three 100-calorie snacks and a 500-calorie dinner of lean protein and vegetables. The plan is convenient, but it can be costly and there's not a lot of variety. Even so, Slim-Fast has been studied in clinical settings, and the diet has produced results comparable to other popular popular diets about 13 pounds over the course of six months. However, some users say the plan is hard to stick with, and others report feeling hungry quite often.

Diet books are an inexpensive way to lose weight since you don't have to pay for in-person meetings or prepackaged foods. Although it hasn't been subjected to clinical studies, the diet is nutritionally sound and focuses on lifestyle changes rather than dieting, according to experts. Reviewers love that the diet includes exercise recommendations and centers around whole foods. Dieters are encouraged to replace processed and fried foods with whole grains, lean protein and fresh produce.
Pros
Short-term weight loss

Cons
High drop-out rate
High cost
Lack of variety in available foods


TC diet pills are a waste of money
Pros
Widely available
Cons
Ingredients are either unproven or dangerous
Expensive
Not approved by the FDA (with the exception of Alli)

While over-the-counter diet pills may seem like a fast and easy way to lose weight, experts say you are better off taking the traditional route of diet and exercise. The ingredients in almost all over-the-counter diet pills are either unproven or dangerous. Take acai berry pills, for example. These pills are widely touted for weight loss, but manufacturers have no credible scientific evidence to back up their claims. Stephen Talcott, a professor at Texas A&M University, said in an interview with The New York Times that there is "no evidence to support a weight loss claim for acai fruit." However, that won't stop the makers of acai berry pills from promising fast and rapid weight loss.
Other diet pills, like those that contain bitter orange and caffeine, may even be dangerous. Bitter orange, which is sometimes listed as citrus naringin, has replaced ephedra in many popular diet pills, but it may have similar effects as the banned ingredient. Keep in mind that, with the exception of Alli, over-the-counter diet pills are not regulated by the FDA. Alli is the over-the-counter version of prescription Xenical. While it is approved by the FDA, Alli has unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects and experts estimate that it will only help you lose a few more pounds than diet and exercise alone. So what's the bottom line on over-the-counter diet pills? Health experts, like those at Harvard, the Mayo Clinic and Public Citizen, say consumers should avoid them.
The most credible information on over-the-counter weight-loss pills comes from respected health organizations like the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School. These sources review the latest research on diet pills and summarize the findings in terms that are easy to understand for the average person. ConsumerLab.com is also a helpful source. This subscription-only website tests diet pills to see if they contain the promised ingredients; they also check for contaminants like lead.


*Studies show no dramatic weight loss
*Approved for obese patients only
*Many regain weight after stopping treatment
Unlike over-the-counter diet pills, prescription weight-loss medications are regulated by the FDA and have been tested in clinical trials for safety and efficacy. That said, most health experts agree that these diet pills won't lead to dramatic weight loss, and they may have unpleasant side effects. The two most popular prescription diet pills are orlistat (Xenical) and sibutramine (Meridia). They are approved for obese patients with a BMI over 30. The problem with both of these diet pills is that they don't lead to significant weight loss. A meta-analysis conducted by The Obesity Society showed that patients on orlistat for one year lost an average of 6 pounds more than those who took a placebo. Six pounds over the course of a year is certainly not a lot, especially when you have to deal with gastrointestinal side effects like sudden diarrhea and oily spotting. The Obesity Society had much the same result when it studied sibutramine trials -- participants lost an average of 12 pounds more over the course of a year than the placebo group.
In addition, The Mayo Clinic advises that most patients taking prescription weight-loss medications regain the weight they've lost once they stop treatment. Public Citizen lists both Xenical and Meridia on its "do not use" list.
The best information on prescription diet pills comes from The Obesity Society, publishers of the journal Obesity. The Obesity Society performs a meta-analysis on both Xenical and Meridia to determine if these medications lead to significant weight loss. An article published in the British Medical Journal also conducts similar research on prescription diet pills. In addition to these sources, organizations like Public Citizen, the Mayo Clinic and Consumer Reports publish solid summaries of the latest research.

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