Internet weight loss programs

Questions still remain as to the efficacy of using the Internet for long-term weight loss maintenance. Findings from these studies provide beginning guidelines for healthcare providers who may choose to use Internet-based weight loss interventions.

Future research is still needed to determine the applicability of such interventions in diverse age, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Abstract The escalating obesity epidemic has prompted healthcare professionals to seek interventions that can reach large numbers of individuals in a timely and cost-effective manner. Publication types Review. Users also have easy access to the staff doctor, Dr. Robert Kushner, a professor at Northwestern University's medical school and president-elect of the Obesity Society.

You can e-mail or post personalized questions to the "Coaching Corner" for same-day responses from Dr. The site hosts live weekly chats with diet and fitness experts, message boards, and a buddy system to pair you with a fellow dieter for more motivation.

Also offered is advice on coping with emotional concerns that often lead to overeating, although our expert couldn't find any articles on maintenance and avoiding weight regain.

Fitness information — including workout planners and video exercises — is included. Very customizable meal plans allow you to enter health concerns like "low-cholesterol" and "low-sodium," something that wasn't offered on other sites. The program is broken into stages one through four, to help move you through the journey of weight loss one step at a time.

The online community is very active, and "Spark Teams" of other members will help keep you motivated on bad days. Somewhat unconventional meals example: black beans and corn over rice, cottage cheese, and a cookie might not be appealing or satisfying for everyone. Sparkpeople's fitness component is just as extensive as the nutrition section. Articles and tools address every aspect of health with regard to weight loss nutrition, fitness, attitude, and behavior to find the right diet strategy that fits into your lifestyle.

It also gives users realistic goals, doing the best job of explaining the healthiest rate of weight loss and how to keep it up. However, it offers little interaction as a basic member. All trademarks, registered trademarks and service-marks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners. Published content is provided from businesses that have been compensated by this website. This can potentially affect the appearance of the stated products.

Not all companies or products are represented, but efforts are made to offer full transparency. Any and all published editorial content is offered without any sort of influence. The Skinny on Free Online Weight Loss Programs As the Internet is helping us to do all things we could only dream about — work from home, create our own business, do all of our holiday shopping — it is also giving an opportunity to those who want to lose weight, to adopt an online program and drop those pesky 10, 20 or 50 pounds.

The Programs With their over-arching feature being that they are free, these online weight loss programs often feature an entire community of support as you make your way along your weight-loss journey. Here is a list of some of the more popular free online weight loss programs: iVillage Total Health — One of the original online diet programs, they provide personalized meal and exercise plans from credentialed fitness and nutrition professionals.

FitDay — Its primary tool is journaling, an exercise widely supported as an effective means of weight loss. Also provides charts and graphs to show progress over time and toward your goal. Available online or as a desktop application. SparkPeople — Offers group support and a four-phase diet plan to help you lose weight and keep it off. They cater exclusively to women. Calorie Count — Managed by About.

Access free tools, community support and lose weight through different diet plans. Holding You Accountable One common feature across many of these free online plans is to hold you accountable for what you eat and how much you exercise.