A good weight loss program can change your life.
Losing weight is hard – especially if you try to lose weight with no outside help.
A good weight loss program tells you what to eat and when to exercise to maximize weight loss results.
Some weight loss programs even give you most of your meals, making weight loss easy.
All weight-loss programs claim to help you lose weight. However, not all of them succeed. Our weight loss experts tested, analyzed, and rated today’s most popular weight loss programs to find the best for 2022.
The Top Weight Loss & Diet Systems of 2022
After hours of deliberation, here’s how our editorial team ranked the best weight loss and diet programs for 2022:
- Nutrisystem
- Custom Keto Diet
- Weight Watchers
- Beachbody
- Golo
- Noom
- Hello Fresh
- LA Weight Loss
- Diet Direct
- Beyond Body
- Raw Generation
- Factor 75
Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem is one of the world’s best-known weight loss programs. Today, Nutrisystem continues to go strong, helping you lose weight and live healthy by getting balanced nutrition delivered to your doorstep.
If you want a weight loss program that gives you exactly what to eat each day to maximize weight loss, Nutrisystem could be the right choice. Nutrisystem offers multiple pricing and subscription tiers ranging from $9.99 to $13.21 per day.
With 160+ menu choices and a wide selection of easy-to-make dishes, Nutrisystem continues to be one of the world’s most popular done-for-you weight loss programs. If you want hassle-free weight loss from someone telling you what to eat, Nutrisystem could be the best choice.
Custom Keto Diet
Custom Keto Diet, found online, builds a custom ketogenic diet plan based on your unique physiology.
Other weight loss programs are designed for people of different sizes, shapes, weights, and experience levels. These programs force you to follow the same rigid schedule as someone else.
Custom Keto Diet flips the conventional diet by building a custom ketogenic diet plan for you. You can try the custom meal plan risk-free. If you don’t like it, just request a refund in 60 days.
Your Custom Keto Diet journey starts with a brief online quiz. Answer the questions honestly. Then, the website outputs an 8-week custom keto diet plan based on your answers. You buy the program, follow it, and enjoy proven weight loss results through a high-fat, low-carb keto-style diet customized to your unique needs.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is another large and well-known weight loss program giant. Rebranded as WW, Weight Watchers transformed a few years ago to reflect its new commitment to health and wellness.
You can start your WW journey today for just $1 per month for your first three months. Like a giant weight loss program company, WW can undercut many competitors by dazzling you with low introductory prices.
Like other top weight loss programs, Weight Watchers customizes your program to your unique needs. You complete an online quiz to get started. Then, you can get personalized guidance and meal recommendations to help you through your weight loss journey.
Weight Watchers also offers multiple plans and packages based on what you’re looking for. You can use the Weight Watchers PersonalPoints Engine to plan your daily meals, including the Points Budget and ZeroPoint foods list. Or, you can use the app as a recipe book. If you want straightforward, doctor-based weight loss advice, then WW is tough to beat.
Beachbody
Beachbody is best-known for its workout videos. Today, however, Beachbody also offers a complete package of weight loss guides, videos, and tools for people with all experience levels.
If you want home workouts you can perform today to maximize fat burning and weight loss, then Beachbody is tough to beat. The company offers 1,500 workouts, including well-known options like Muscle Burns Fat, 21 Day Fix, and Insanity Max:30.
We like Beachbody because of the diversity of workouts; instead of only offering low-impact workouts and light cardio training, Beachbody also provides some of the most strenuous home strength training programs.
Join Beachbody today, select the program, follow the plan, and see results. You can use Beachbody to lose significant amounts of weight – all from home comfortably if you can do that.
Golo
Golo is a weight loss program that helps you “go lose weight, go look great, and go love life,” among other benefits. Designed for people with different weight loss goals, Golo is explicitly targeted at people who have struggled to lose weight in the past – including those with insulin resistance, stress, and other factors that inhibit weight loss.
Golo created something called Release, an all-natural dietary supplement marketed to those with insulin resistance. Using a blend of plants and minerals, Golo Release can purportedly burn fat, control hunger, support immunity, and help you lose weight by balancing your hormones, among other benefits.
You don’t need to follow a strenuous exercise program, pay for a costly subscription, or follow a strict meal plan to lose weight; instead, you may be able to take Golo and get similar results.
Golo is designed to be safe for people with diabetes to take, and it has over 100 studies supporting the safety and efficacy of its ingredients. Studies show Golo led to 79.9% more weight loss, 17.6% lower cholesterol, 12.5% lower blood pressure, and 206% more inches lost around the waist, among other benefits, compared to a placebo supplement.
Plus, after buying the Golo supplement, you get access to a complete collection of weight loss resources, including the Golo Metabolic Solution, myGolo online platform, and Overcoming Diet Obstacles guide, among other bonuses.
Noom
Noom burst onto the scene and has quickly become one of the internet’s top-rated weight loss programs.
Noom asks a few questions about your demographics, weight loss goals, and workout experience. Then, Noom builds a custom profile based on your answers.
What makes Noom unique is that it’s based on real psychology. Other weight loss programs focus on the physical aspect of weight loss – like eating fewer calories than you burn. Noom emphasizes retraining your brain’s long-term relationship with food to unlock authentic, sustainable weight loss results.
By following Noom’s customized program, you can identify thought patterns and build new habits. Whether trying to lose weight or just change your relationship with food, you can get the answers you need through Noom’s customized plans.
Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh is a popular meal delivery program that takes the stress from mealtime.
If you struggle to lose weight because it’s hard to buy and cook healthy food, then Hello Fresh may be the right option. Hello Fresh delivers a box of pre-portioned, chef-designed ingredients straight from the farm to your doorstep each week. You get easy-to-follow recipes ranging from craft burgers to kid-approved meals to desserts.
With 25 fresh new recipes each week, Hello Fresh provides flexible plans you can customize to your unique needs. If you want to lose weight, for example, then you might follow a different meal plan than someone trying to build muscle.
Overall, Hello Fresh is America’s most popular meal kit. If you want fresh ingredients and great dishes daily to help you lose weight, then Hello Fresh could be the right option.
LA Weight Loss
LA Weight Loss is a weight loss program aiming to help anyone lose weight and rejuvenate their body.
With popular options like LA Life QuickStart, LA Life Essential, and LA Life Max, LA Weight Loss can provide science-backed weight loss that works.
When following the LA Life program, your body continuously burns calories throughout the day, boosting your energy and helping to control your appetite. The program was designed to work with your body – not against it.
Today, LA Weight Loss offers a mobile app, several supplements under the LA SlimMetrics brand, and other perks. LA Weight Loss is a tried-and-true option with thousands of happy customers, whether trying to lose weight or just get healthier.
Diet Direct
Diet Direct delivers delicious, high-protein food to your doorstep every day. You can choose from snack foods or complete dishes, customizing your weight loss plan based on your unique preferences.
Diet Direct is one of the more affordable options on our list, with prices starting at just $1.64 per meal (compared to, say, $7.99 per meal for Hello Fresh).
Your Diet Direct subscription includes bonuses we don’t see with other programs, including menu plans, meal replacement shakes, and success guides, among other perks.
If you want someone to do all of the hard meal planning work for you, and if you don’t want to cook much at home while still losing weight, then Diet Direct could be the best choice for you.
Beyond Body
Beyond Body markets itself as a revolutionary way to wellness. By following the Beyond Body program, you can reach your healthy weight goal and improve your well-being using a personalized wellness book.
After completing the quiz on Beyond Body’s official website, the website creates a personalized book based on your answers. That book comes with meal plans, recipes, shopping lists, and customized weight loss guidance to make your weight loss as easy as possible.
Why would you follow someone else’s weight loss program? Everybody is different, and people lose weight in different ways. Beyond Body gives custom weight loss advice catered to your unique physiology.
We also like how Beyond Body delivers instant advice: you get a digital copy of your customized book, making it easy to unlock instant information for your weight loss goals.
Raw Generation
Raw Generation is a lineup of juices designed to jumpstart your weight loss journey.
If you like cooking your foods at home and feel you have good diet habits already, then Raw Generation could be an effective weight loss program.
You can build a box of Raw Generation juices, getting the specific juices you want each month without running out. One box of juices (12 juices) can last for two days when performing a full juice cleanse.
Some Raw Generation juices are designed to cleanse the body, while others are designed for weight loss. All juices, however, are 100% raw and plant-based with nothing artificial. They’re also dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.
Factor 75
Factor 75 has 27 dietitian-designed weekly options with new menus every week. The company’s gourmet chefs do the prepping and cooking, then you simply heat the meals and enjoy them.
Factor 75 takes all hard work from cooking and preparing meals, like other done-for-you weight loss programs. Instead of worrying about what to eat every night, you can get fresh, healthy, and surprisingly tasty meals ready to heat and eat.
Factor 75 also lets you customize meals based on your unique preferences. There are keto, low-carb, low-calorie, and plant-based meals.
Plus, with unique and diverse options like brisket ropa vieja, spicy turkey poblano, stuffed pork tenderloin, and more, Factor 75 feels like you’re eating at a good restaurant from the comfort of your home – all while enjoying healthy foods.
How We Ranked The Top Weight Loss & Diet Systems
All weight-loss programs claim to make it easy to lose weight. However, not all of them live up to that promise.
To separate the contenders from the pretenders, we used the following ranking factors:
Menu Options
The best weight loss programs have hundreds of menu choices, making mixing up your weekly diet and choosing different dishes easy. If your diet features the same meals every week, it gets boring quickly. We liked weight loss programs that mixed things up.
Menu Diversity and Customization Options
Good weight loss programs now accommodate a range of diet choices, preferences, and requirements. You can find vegan weight loss programs, for example, or Kosher weight loss programs. Maybe you don’t like specific vegetables or foods. A good weight loss program makes it easy to customize your meal plan with whatever preferences you like.
Pricing and Value
Weight loss programs are available at different prices, from $5 to $50 per day. Some people are willing to pay for premium, restaurant-quality food delivered to their door every day. Others want cheap, easy, and basic meals at a discount price – and that’s okay. We weren’t biased against specific weight loss program prices, but we preferred companies that offered good value. If you’re paying a premium price, you should get premium ingredients. You should still get good food if you’re paying a discount price.
Follow Ability and Ease of Use
Is the weight loss program easy to follow? Can an average person follow the program with limited experience? Or is the plan unnecessarily complicated? If a weight loss program is complex, you’re unlikely to follow it to completion.
Dish Preparation
Some weight loss program dishes are microwaveable. Throw the plate in the microwave, and then eat it daily to meet your daily caloric intake. Other weight loss programs require you to add fundamental ingredients to the dish and cook the dish. People like different dishes and different preparation strategies, but we prefer weight loss programs that you could cook in under 20 minutes.
Real Weight Loss Results
Some of the top weight loss programs have been on the market for decades. You can find thousands of reviews for these programs, including reviews from real customers who have lost significant amounts of weight. We tested each weight loss program wherever possible, but we also considered legitimate weight loss results and customer testimonials in our rankings.
Honest Advertised Weight Loss Claims
Most weight loss programs will allow you to lose 1 to 2lbs per week, on average, when paired with a healthy exercise routine. This is a typical amount of weight for a healthy adult to lose. We were wary of weight loss programs that claimed to help you lose 30lbs a month. If a weight loss program needs to make ridiculous weight-loss claims to draw you in, then it’s not a very reputable weight loss program.
Long-Term Success
Many done-for-you weight loss programs have an obvious drawback: it’s hard to enjoy long-term weight loss when someone else is cooking your meals. That’s why many weight loss programs focus on long-term weight loss results. They teach you how to make healthy meals, for example, or provide additional resources. There’s no point in following a weight loss program if you simply regain the weight after.
Refund, Free Trial, or Money-back Guarantee
All top weight loss programs stand behind their products with a refund or money-back guarantee. Some offer 30 or 60-day risk-free trials, for example, while others provide 7-day free trials at no cost. When a company stands behind its products with a guarantee, they know it works.
Taste
Do the dishes taste good? Has the company tasted its food? Or are the dishes bland and nasty? When dealing with weight loss programs, it’s tough to find the right balance of flavor and quality, but the best weight loss programs walk the line successfully.
Ingredient Quality
Some cheap weight loss programs are no better than microwaveable frozen meals. Others are genuine, chef-designed gourmet meals. You can’t lose weight effectively with inexpensive ingredients. The best and most sustainable weight loss comes from quality ingredients, including fresh fruits and vegetables and intelligently-designed dishes.
Appetite Control
The best weight loss programs lower your caloric intake without starving you. Some let you eat six meals per day, for example, to minimize hunger. Others are rich in proteins, fats, and fiber that reduce your appetite. We liked weight loss programs that managed your appetite intelligently and effectively.
Personalization Options
People lose weight in different ways. No two weight loss journeys are the same. We liked weight loss programs that made it easy to personalize your weight loss however you wanted. Instead of shoehorning you into the same weight loss program as everyone else, the best weight loss programs customize your weight loss based on your age, gender, physiology, weight loss goals, and other factors.
Backed by Doctors or Dietitians
Doctors or registered dietitians (RDs) create the best weight loss programs. The more professional experience the company used to make its dishes, the higher we ranked it.
How Do Weight Loss Programs Work?
Weight loss programs give you the tools you need to lose weight. The specific “tools” vary between programs.
Weight loss programs may feature tools like:
- Recommended meals, recipe books, shopping lists, and ingredient lists
- Done-for-you meals, including meals that are ready to eat or take a few minutes to prepare at home
- Guides, videos, eBooks, and other tools explaining the best weight-loss strategies
- Mobile apps and other tools to guide you on your weight loss journey
- One-on-one coaching with doctors, dietitians, and weight loss experts
- Other tools, resources, apps, or guides to make weight loss easy
The overall goal of a weight loss program is simple: to make weight loss easy and effective. Some people want everything done for them, while others want to make their food while getting essential weight loss advice.
Some weight loss programs are free, while others are available via subscription.
Weight Loss Program Side Effects
Weight loss programs are not associated with significant side effects when followed by healthy adults. However, losing weight is related to good and bad side effects.
Some uncommon side effects of weight loss programs include:
- Tiredness
- Coldness
- Dizziness
- Bad breath
- Headaches
- Constipation
You experience these symptoms because your body is releasing fat. For example, many people get “keto breath,” when their ketone levels are high, which means their body burns fat for energy instead of carbs. This is all an expected part of losing weight.
Top 10 Best Weight Loss Tips
According to the National Health Service and other health experts, here are some of the best and most science-backed ways to lose weight:
Don’t Skip Breakfast
Skipping a meal may seem reasonable to lose weight. However, you could miss essential nutrients. And studies show you end up snacking more throughout the day if you don’t have a big breakfast.
Eat Regular Meals
Eating at regular times helps to burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to eat unhealthy snacks.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
80% of Americans don’t get their daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. That’s bad. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fibers, natural sugars, vitamins, and minerals, crucial for weight loss. They’re also filling while being low in calories. They’re all-around weight-loss superfoods.
Get Active
Being active is crucial for weight loss. Being more active can lead to health benefits while helping you burn more excess calories than dieting alone. Even a brisk, 30-minute walk once per day can cause significantly more weight loss than not exercising.
Eat High Fiber Foods
Fiber is a hidden weight loss secret. Fiber bulks up after it enters your body, soaking up water in your stomach and gut, making you feel full. Fiber also helps physically push waste out of your digestive tract, making it ideal for cleansing and detoxification. Eat more fruits, vegetables, oats, whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta, beans, peas, or lentils to increase fiber intake.
Use a Smaller Plate
Psychology plays a significant role in weight loss. Using a smaller plate can trick your brain into thinking you’re eating more food than you are. Use a smaller vessel to make smaller portions look large. If you use larger plates and bowls, you’re more likely to overeat.
Enjoy the Occasional Treat
Banning specific “treats” doesn’t work well for weight loss; instead, it makes you want those treats more. You can enjoy treats while following a weight loss program as they could make a program more effective. However, eat treats in moderation for maximum weight loss effects.
Plan Meals in Advance
If you’re serious about weight loss, then you’ll want to plan your breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks for the week upfront. By planning meals, you avoid the temptation to snack, buy fast food, or eat unhealthy meals that are quick to prepare. Although planning takes work, it’s effective for weight loss.
Eat Mindfully
Mindful eating is another psychological tip for weight loss. Eating mindfully can help you manage hunger levels and portion sizes while blocking you from stress eating. Chew your food more carefully, put your utensil down between bites, and taste and acknowledge the food as you eat it. When you eat quickly, you disrupt your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues.
Practice Strength Training
Muscle burns more calories than fat. One of the best ways to lose weight is to build more muscle. Incorporate strength training into your workout routine. Having muscle is like having a fat-burning furnace within your body.
Scientific Evidence for Weight Loss Programs
Some of the world’s biggest and best-known weight loss programs are backed by genuine scientific evidence showing they work. Weight Watchers, for example, has completed multiple studies validating its effectiveness. We’ll review some of the scientific evidence supporting weight loss programs below.
In this 2015 study, researchers compared the effectiveness of several commercial weight-loss programs. Researchers reviewed dozens of randomized controlled trials ranging from 12 weeks to 12 months. After analyzing 39 studies, researchers found Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig to offer better weight loss than competing programs. Researchers also found promising evidence for Nutrisystem, although more research was needed to verify these results.
Weight loss isn’t just about eating the right foods and exercising the right way; it’s also about changing your behavior. To unlock long-term weight loss, you may need to modify your behavior and lifestyle. For example, researchers found that people were more likely to gain and lose weight if they avoided behavioral therapy in this book. By adjusting behavioral and lifestyle factors, participants could end their yo-yo diet and enjoy long-term weight loss results.
Meanwhile, one 2018 study published in Healthcare analyzed dozens of trials to determine the optimal weight loss program. The best weight loss program has the following traits:
- Safe
- Efficacious
- Healthy and nutritionally adequate
- Culturally acceptable and economically affordable
- Should ensure long-term compliance and maintenance of weight loss
- Should set realistic goals based on individual needs, preferences, and medical conditions
If a weight loss program has all six of these traits, it should be an effective way to lose weight.
Benefits of Weight Loss
According to the CDC, even modest weight loss can significantly benefit. Losing 5% to 10% of your body weight can lead to:
- Improvements in blood pressure
- Improvements in cholesterol
- Reduction in blood sugars
- Decreased risk factor for chronic diseases linked to obesity
- Increased energy, physical mobility, general mood, and self-confidence
Someone who weighs 200lbs and loses 5% (10lbs), for example, can significantly decrease risk factors linked to obesity. Obesity is linked to many chronic diseases. For every pound you lose, you’re reducing those risk factors in a small way.
FAQs About Weight Loss Programs
Our weight loss experts get plenty of questions about weight loss programs and how they work. Here are some of our answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Q: Is eating fat bad for weight loss?
A: Saturated fats are bad for weight loss, but polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are okay. Aim to get healthy fats from olive oil, cold-water fish, tofu, avocado, and certain types of nuts to optimize weight loss and health.
Q: Do I need to plan every meal to lose weight?
A: Some experts recommend planning every meal to optimize weight loss. It may sound over-the-top, but it’s a great way to stay on task, especially if you’re elderly. When you avoid planning, you risk snacking and eating unhealthy meals, ruining your weight loss progress.
Q: Should I keep a food diary for weight loss?
A: Studies show that keeping a diary of what you eat can double weight loss results. Many weight loss programs recommend keeping a food diary for weight loss.
Q: Which carbs should I eat for weight loss?
A: Low-carb diets are popular for weight loss, but your body needs carbs for energy. They’re fuel for your body. Avoid carbs from sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and junk food, and aim to get carbs from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Q: What is the typical weight loss per week?
A: The typical person can lose 1lb to 2lbs per week while following a diet and exercise program. However, some men can safely lose 3lbs to 5lbs per week.
Q: How much weight can I lose with a weight loss program?
A: Studies show you can lose around 10% of your total weight after following a three-month weight loss program. After that, you can expect to lose 2% to 5% in the fourth month, then around 4lbs per month after that.
Q: How many times a day do I eat for weight loss?
A: Studies show the time of day doesn’t matter much for weight loss; instead, your total caloric intake and nutrient balance are more important. However, many experts recommend taking 4 to 6 smaller meals per day for optimal weight loss.
Q: Will I be hungry with a weight loss program?
A: The best weight loss programs are specifically designed to avoid hunger by suppressing your appetite. Eating the right foods – including protein-rich and fiber-heavy foods – can suppress your urge to eat.
Q: Are weight loss programs safe?
A: All weight loss programs on the list above are safe for healthy adults to follow when using the recommended plan. However, you should talk to your doctor before following a weight loss program if you take medication or have any medical condition.
Q: Can I drink caffeine on a weight loss program?
A: Studies show caffeine is one of the best ingredients to take when trying to lose weight. Caffeine boosts metabolism, accelerating weight loss results.
Q: Can I drink alcohol on a weight loss program?
A: Most weight loss programs do not recommend drinking alcohol while following the program, although some allow small consumption of alcohol as an occasional treat.
Q: Can I eat out at restaurants while following a weight loss program?
A: Today’s top weight loss programs have restaurant-specific recommendations for dining out. You might be able to check the menu on the mobile app, for example, to see what you should eat.
Q: Do I need to exercise while following the weight loss program?
A: Most weight loss programs recommend moderate exercise for optimal weight loss results. However, even a 30-minute daily walk is enough to meet most weight loss program exercise requirements.
Q: What’s the best weight loss program for people with diabetes?
A: Any of the top-ranked weight loss programs on our list are available to diabetics, including Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, Beachbody, and Noom.
Q: Do weight loss programs keep weight off?
A: Good weight loss programs help you lose weight and keep it off.
Q: Do genes affect weight loss?
A: Weight loss is determined by many factors, including eating, lifestyle, and exercise. Genetics plays a role in your physiology, and it could impact weight loss. However, genetics is no excuse for not losing weight.
Q: Should I count calories to lose weight?
A: Some weight loss programs recommend counting calories to lose weight, while others suggest a color-based approach (with different dishes being different colors based on their healthiness).
Q: What’s the best weight loss program?
A: Nutrisystem, Weightwatchers, Noom, Hello Fresh, and Factor 75 are some of the best weight loss programs available today.
Q: What’s the best exercise for weight loss?
A: All forms of exercise are beneficial for weight loss. There’s no specific “right” exercise for weight loss, as people have different physiologies.
Q: Does insurance cover weight loss programs?
A: Some weight loss clinics accept insurance, although most weight loss programs listed above do not take insurance.
Q: How much does a weight loss program cost?
A: Weight loss programs cost anywhere from $10 to $500 per month. Weight loss programs vary widely based on the products and services you receive. For example, a weight-loss app subscription might cost $10 per month for unlimited streaming workouts, while a full home meal delivery subscription costs $500 per month.
The Top Weight Loss & Diet Systems of 2022 Final Word
Today, you have more weight loss program options than ever before, ranging from done-for-you meal delivery services to weight loss apps.
By choosing the perfect program for your unique physiology and weight loss goals, you can optimize weight loss.
Pick any of the top-ranked weight loss programs above to ensure you’re getting the best possible weight loss results from your weight loss program.
