Adherence
Weight Watchers, a nonmedical commercial program, produces modest weight loss (3.2% at 2 years) with higher adherence than self-help interventions, but evidence for other major commercial programs (Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss) is suboptimal.
Weight Watchers can help you lose about 3% of your body weight over 2 years, which is modest but better than self-help. It works through weekly group support and behavioral counseling. It's affordable ($12/week) and accessible, making it a good choice for long-term maintenance if you value social support over rapid results.
Of 3 randomized, controlled trials of Weight Watchers, the largest reported a loss of 3.2% of initial weight at 2 years... With the exception of 1 trial of Weight Watchers, the evidence to support the use of the major commercial and self-help weight loss programs is suboptimal.
Why this rating
Based on 3 RCTs, but one was small (n=48) and another had no follow-up; the largest trial had 27% attrition.
Source
Systematic Review: An Evaluation of Major Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the United States
Adam Gilden Tsai et al. · Annals of Internal Medicine · 2005
DOI 10.7326/0003-4819-142-1-200501040-00012
More from this paper
- Medically supervised very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) programs (e.g., OPTIFAST, Health Management Resources) produce significant short-term weight loss (15-25%) but are associated with high attrition and substantial long-term weight regain (maintaining only 5-9% loss at 1-4 years).Moderate
- Internet-based commercial weight loss programs (e.g., eDiets.com) produce minimal weight loss (1.1% at 1 year) and are not recommended based on current evidence.Limited
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →