Diet Plan Comparison Chart
We know that the world of diet plans and weight loss programs can offer a bewildering amount of options. It can be very difficult to mentally realize which diet is best for. We have prepared a diet comparison chart that should answer at a glance most, if not all, of your essential dieting questions. The categories and selection criteria are explained in more detail below the chart. In it, we have attempted to answer what dieters have expressed to us as their primary concerns and selection criteria when considering which diet or weight loss plan to pursue. The diets are presented alphabetically and do not reflect ranking or preference.
|
Name |
Cost |
Type |
Complexity |
Cooking Requirements |
Physical Activity |
Support |
Type 2 Diabetes |
Top Pros | Top Cons |
|
Atkins Diet |
Low Cost |
Low Carb |
Mid Range |
Self-Cooked |
Mostly Diet |
Low Virtual |
Yes |
Rapid Weight Loss, no specialty purchases required | Limited food selection, hard to follow |
|
Biggest Loser |
Mid-Range |
Calorie Reduction |
Mid Range |
Self-Cooked |
Mostly Exercise |
High Virtual |
No |
Celebrity interaction, support, exercise instruction | Cost, difficult to maintain |
|
Bob Greene’s Best Life |
High Cost |
Calorie Reduction |
Complex |
Self-Cooked |
Diet and Exercise |
High Virtual |
No |
Realistic, slow-paced, low-pressure, exercise instruction, accountability and support | Cost, and slow results |
|
Deliciously Yours |
High Cost |
Meal Replacement |
Simple |
Pre-Cooked |
Mostly Diet |
None |
No |
Simplicity, taste | Cost, slower results |
|
Diet To Go |
High Cost |
Meal Replacement |
Simple |
Pre-Cooked |
Mostly Diet |
Some Actual |
No |
Simplicity, length of time in industry (proven effectiveness) | Cost, less new science and/or innovation, limited variety |
|
eDiets.com |
High Cost |
Calorie Reduction |
Simple |
Self-Cooked and Pre-Cooked |
Mostly Diet |
Low Virtual |
No |
Virtual tools | Cost, difficult to maintain, results vary |
|
Glycemic Impact |
Low Cost |
Low Carb |
Complex |
Self-Cooked |
Mostly Diet |
None |
Yes |
Helps control blood sugar levels and Type 2 Diabetes, raises energy levels | Eliminates all sugars, complexity, no accountability, |
|
Jillian Michael’s |
Mid-Range |
Calorie Reduction |
Complex |
Self-Cooked |
Mostly Exercise |
Low Virtual |
No |
Celebrity interaction, exercise instruction, support | Cost, difficult to maintain, complexity |
|
Medifast |
High Cost |
Meal Replacement |
Simple |
Pre-Cooked and Pre-Packaged |
Mostly Diet |
None |
No |
Simplicity, provides 6 meals a day, and allows you to cook your primary meal within provided guidelines | Cost |
|
NutriSystem |
High Cost |
Meal Replacement |
Simple |
Pre-Cooked and Pre-Packaged |
Mostly Diet |
Low Virtual |
Yes |
Simplicity, can choose from a variety of plans specifically tailored for health and preference | Cost, limited variety |
|
Slim-Fast Optima |
High Cost |
Meal Replacement |
Simple |
Pre-Packaged |
Mostly Diet |
None |
No |
Simplicity, can be self-purchased locally | Cost, limited variety, no support |
|
South Beach |
Mid-Range |
Low Carb |
Complex |
Self-Cooked |
Diet and Exercise |
High Virtual |
Yes |
Rapid Weight Loss, high levels of support, includes exercise instruction | Limited accountability, complexity |
|
Abs Diet |
Low Cost |
Calorie Reduction |
Simple |
Self-Cooked |
Diet and Exercise |
None |
No |
Simplicity, includes exercise instruction, fast results in target area. | Narrow results, slower overall weight loss, No support |
|
Celebrity Fit Club |
Mid-Range |
Calorie Reduction |
Complex |
Self-Cooked |
Mostly Exercise |
High Virtual |
No |
Celebrity interaction, high levels of support, exercise instruction | Cost, difficult to maintain |
|
Weight Watchers |
Mid-Range |
Calorie Reduction |
Complex |
Self-Cooked |
Mostly Diet |
High Actual |
No |
High ACTUAL support levels, allows all foods in reasonable levels, easy to maintain indefinitely, proven effectiveness | Cost, complexity, slower results |
Definitions of our rating categories
Name: The Name of the Diet or Weight Loss Plan
Cost: This is a rough estimate of actual diet cost, however some high cost diets may end up being the best over-all budget investment
Low cost: Low Cost diets require little or no extra cash outlay, or purchase of specialty foods
Mid-Range: Mid-Range cost diets may require membership fees, or purchase of a few specific foods. This price range generally falls within $30-$50 a month.
High Cost: High Cost diets require a significant investment on the part of the individual, generally almost all food intake must be pre-purchased.
Type: Every diet falls into one of three categories: Meal replacement, Low-Carb, and Calorie Reduction
Meal Replacement: A meal replacement diet is structured to mandate it’s participants correct consumption of calories, nutrients and portion sizes by actually providing all, or the majority, of the food that they consume daily.
Low-Carb: A Low Carbohydrate diet is one that is structured to either eliminate or drastically reduce the average individual’s consumption of carbohydrates, which are found in high amounts in many common foods like bread, potatoes, rice, tortillas and even in certain vegetables such as carrots, corn, tomatoes and beans.
Calorie Reduction: Calorie Reduction Diets are perhaps the ones that we are most familiar with as a society. They operate along the inescapable law of dieting: in order for weight loss to occur, the amount of calories consumed by your body daily must be less than the amount of calories burned by your body daily. Calorie reduction diets involve portion control, careful food selection, and both awareness and tracking of caloric intake.
Complexity: Refers to the amount of knowledge, training and information required to successfully complete the diet regimen.
Cooking Requirements:
Self-Cooked: The individual does all of the food selection and preparation for the diet themselves.
Pre-Packaged: Meal replacements required by the diet, like shakes and meal bars, are either delivered or can be purchased locally.
Pre-Cooked: Specific meals are cooked, frozen and delivered to you by the diet company. All foods must be purchased thru them.
Physical Activity: Exercise is essential for weight loss, but different diet plans come with varying degrees of support and emphasis.
This Column refers to amount of exercise included in the diet regiment, and supported by the diet company. It is also based on the amount of information, motivation and help available through the diet company. Most weight loss plans generally emphasize diet or exercise, and some few are a good combination of both.
Support: Successful weight loss often occurs when the individual is has some form of outside accountability.
Some individuals prefer to go it on their own when attempting to lose weight. Many find they are most successful when outside support and advice is offered in the way of coaching, encouragement, and personalized dieting and exercise information. Actual contact with diet support staff is rare, while virtual, or online contact, is becoming more common.
Type 2 Diabetes: Symptoms and conditions resulting from Type 2 Diabetes are eliminated or alleviated by the diet regimen.
Successful weight loss, regardless of diet plan, will help Type 2 Diabetes, however certain diet plans are structured to be helpful from the very beginning, before the individual has neared their target weight, and foods are selected specifically to conform to diabetic dietary needs. *It is important to note here that improvement of heart conditions is not a column, because these conditions are only alleviated by actual loss of weight, regardless of how it’s done.
Top Pro: The main reasons this diet is attractive to individuals, and/or achieves successful results.
Top Con: The primary pitfalls, the most likely reasons for individuals to either not see results, or not maintain the diet.