I was disappointed to read this article yesterday only to find that South Beach didn't make the top seven choices. What's up with that? I just can't believe that some of these are believed to be better health wise than South Beach.
Consumer Reports recently tackled the age-old question — which ones really work? — in their latest diet ratings, the first update since 2007.
I have to assume that this is going by information that is easily monitored by these companies. They all have websites, sales information for products, and other ways to monitor such criteria.
True followers of SB tend to stay away from processed foods meaning that the processed SB products have a lower rate of sale than Slim Fast, NutriSystem, and etc.
The question I feel Consumer Reports answered wasn't "What is the best program for your body", it was "Which mega-company has better marketing and sales data which skews the idea of 'success'". If you were to rate them all by which was the healthiest way to lose weight, I'm sure SB would be in the top and most of these others wouldn't even make the list!!
I think that most of these made the cut because of their pre-made meals. I don't know much about them, but I assume it's something like "We take the thinking out of dieting. Buy our meals, snacks, shakes, etc and watch the pounds come off." So then when left up to your own devices, you likely fail. South beach is about understanding what you put in your body and how you react to to and adjusting accordingly. I would think there would be much more success when you have that knowledge and control.
Yeah I saw this on the Today Show and was baffled so I looked into it. Its really the top 10 diets that offer pre-made meals.
South Beach is recommended by doctors (my sisters') and nutritionists (my other sisters') alike.
I wouldn't put much stock in this report. I was watching my local news this weekend and they were talking about this study. I guess the people who were on the Jenny Craig program were given the all the food for free. This was also a two year study and the average weight loss was 16 pounds, not a lot for a two year period.
I say whatever works for you is the right plan to follow.
Last edited by rukiddingme; 05-17-2011 at 04:57 AM.
The magazine said Jenny Craig had “the edge over the other big names” on the basis of a two-year study published last year in The Journal of the American Medical Association. In that study, 92 percent of 442 overweight and obese women stuck with the program for two years, which Consumer Reports called a “remarkable level of adherence.” They lost an average of about 16 pounds.
16lbs.. in 2 years.. wow.. I'm stunned at how great this "diet" is.
The news report that I heard about the top diets reported the findings and followed with the comment "Jenny Craig was a sponsor in the study"-so that helps to explain the results too.
Lists like that should always be taken with a grain of salt. A very tiny grain of salt.
At least three of those plans REQUIRE that you use only their products for at least two out of three meals a day. Certainly not an option for everyone, not to mention the expense.
I guess it's nice that the people were able to stick with it, regardless of the pounds dropped on average it's nice to be able to continue forward with a plan that works for you.
I'm always leery of those "lists" of top anything, and after reading how Consumer Reports conducted the study I've mentally discarded the list in its entirety.