Adherence
Commercial weight-loss programs Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig produce statistically significant and clinically relevant greater weight loss compared to control or behavioral counseling interventions at 12 months.
If you are overweight or obese, joining a high-intensity commercial program like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig is a clinically supported strategy for losing weight. These programs provide structure, accountability, and social support that lead to better results than trying to lose weight alone or with basic education. Expect to lose at least 2.6% more body weight with Weight Watchers and 4.9% more with Jenny Craig compared to no program after one year. While they cost money, they may be cost-effective compared to other treatments.
At 12 months, Weight Watchers participants achieved at least 2.6% greater weight loss than those assigned to control/education. Jenny Craig resulted in at least 4.9% greater weight loss at 12 months than control/education and counseling.
Why this rating
Moderate Risk of Bias (ROB) due to lack of blinding and variable attrition, but based on multiple RCTs.
Source
Efficacy of Commercial Weight-Loss Programs
Kimberly A. Gudzune et al. · Annals of Internal Medicine · 2015
DOI 10.7326/m14-2238
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- Atkins diet produces greater short-term weight loss than control or counseling, but long-term (12 months) efficacy is modest (0.1-2.9% greater) and similar to other diets.Moderate
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 →