Weekly Nutrition News:
A Guide to Rating the Weight-loss Websites
- by Mary Beth Campbell, MSRD
Many people who are successful at weight loss go it alone. But research suggests that at least half use formal programs such as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, or Blake Medical Center’s Trim Team. The structure and moral support offered by such programs help many reach their goals.
But what if you’re caught in the middle? What if you’re someone who’s frustrated trying to lose weight solo but too embarrassed to attend meetings—or too busy for yet another activity? Enter virtual weight loss centers.
That’s right. An increasing number of ambitious weight losers are going online for help, signing on with one of a growing number of websites created to bring dieters together with health professionals—and other dieters—who can guide and cheer them on. It’s convenient and social, yet with privacy built in.
Does it work? Can virtual assistance lead to actual weight loss? Some preliminary research from Brown University suggests that joining a weight-loss website can be a practical alternative to in-person diet counseling. But how do you sort through the sites to find the right match?
When a web-savvy registered dietitian was asked to evaluate eight of the most popular sites now operating, she found that none of the sites was all bad or all good. But different sites have different “personalities” that will appeal to some consumers and not others. For instance, a few like Cyberdiet and DietWatch provide strong online “communities” that offer much support. Others, like eFit, are more information sites with little social interaction.
Some sites like eDiets and Shape Up and Drop 10 charge a feel. It is not essential to pay for online weight-loss information—there are several good sites that provide free access to their dieting and fitness features. But a few of the sites that do charge money offer some pretty good personalized services that you can’t get for free.
As you surf the choices out there keep in mind that even an authoritative looking homepage doesn’t guarantee that the author of the site knows anything about dieting and good nutrition. That’s why it is particularly important to ask yourself the following questions to see which site is best for you.
- Who provides the diet plans and advice to members?
All reputable sites provide diet plans that have been formulated by registered dietitians—health professionals trained in nutrition.
- What claims are made by the site as to how much or how fast weight can be shed on its diet plan?
A reasonable rate of weight loss is about 1 to 2 pounds a week. Responsible websites should use a person’s height, weight, age and activity level to suggest a calorie level that will allow for this moderate weight loss.
Adults should not attempt to follow a diet that provides fewer than 1200 calories daily. That’s too little food to meet essential nutrient needs.
- What kind of meal plan does the site offer?
Some sites are able to customize meal plans more than others. Does the entry Questionnaire ask about dietary restrictions, food preferences, and food allergies? Are vegetarian plans available? Can the site adapt menus to accommodate low-sodium or low-cholesterol plans?
Several sites give the dieter some do-it-yourself meal-planning options. If you want to be told what to eat, you can download a month’s worth of menus. But if you want a pattern and to make your own choices, you can use the site’s meal planner.
- Do members have access to staff professionals?
In recent research it was found that people who had regular online interaction with a dietitian lost more weight than those who tried to follow a weight loss plan on their own. This service usually is only available for a fee.
- Can members share ideas and support?
Most of this type of information sharing is in chat rooms or on bulletin boards. A word Of caution here—not all chat rooms are monitored by health professionals so they may not be the best place to get sound advice. Use them cautiously in that regard.
- Does the site focus only on diet, or are members encouraged to increase their physical activity?
Successful weight loss requires both diet and exercise so you should look for a site that offers advice on how to work physical activity into you daily routine.
- Does the site charge a fee? How long is the contract?
Sites that charge an access fee may offer a reduced rate to clients willing to sign up for several weeks or months at a time. Be wary though of getting locked into a long-term contract.
- Does the site offer a weight-maintenance plan?
Unfortunately there isn’t much focus on weight maintenance on the major weight-loss websites. Given how hard it is to maintain weight loss, more attention should be given to this arena.
Here is a listing of some of the most popular and widely-used weight-loss websites. The listing of these sites is in no way an endorsement for the information contained on the site.
