Additionally, on the first call, the coach and participant worked together to develop an individualized meal plan. On each call, self-monitoring data were discussed, continued intervention engagement was encouraged, barriers were identified, problem solving strategies were employed, education was provided, and small specific goals were set. Participants classified as having suboptimal response and randomized to brief coaching received weekly coaching calls for 3 weeks (delivered during weeks 5-7), and those randomized to extended coaching received weekly coaching calls for 12 weeks (delivered during weeks 5-16). Individuals with suboptimal response who were randomized to the control group did not receive any telephone coaching. Initial responders, independent of randomization assignment, did not receive any coaching. Initial coaching calls were approximately 45 minutes and follow-up calls were approximately 15 minutes; these durations were chosen to maximize the efficiency of calls (ie, ample time for establishing rapport and addressing all intervention components while minimizing cost).

Q: Can I follow a diet health program if I have a medical condition?

This means creating safe and supportive environments where special needs clients feel encouraged to participate. The focus on tailored solutions helps build confidence and motivation, as individuals see measurable progress in their weight management efforts. By combining personalized exercise regimens with supportive nutritional guidelines, weight loss for special needs can be both achievable and sustainable.

Cohort 1 began in-person; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, intervention was transitioned to videoconferencing (via Zoom) starting with session 11(videoconference delivery was used for all remaining cohorts)[23]. Intervention sessions were 60 minutes and conducted in closed groups of 9 to 18 participants, co-led by two trained interventionists with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in nutrition, psychology, or related fields. Participants were also provided with initial caloric intake goals (of 1,200 to 1,800 kcal/day, based on baseline weight[1]). During session 5, participants were provided with physical activity goals focused on gradually increasing engagement in moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, up to 300 min/week[28]. Comprehensive lifestyle treatments for obesity produce clinically-meaningful weight losses[1]; however, long-term outcomes have remained suboptimal[2]. Without additional intervention, most individuals regain weight after these programs end[1].

Table. Descriptives of Study Sample by Group.

One of the key strengths of adaptive workout programs is their ability to cater to the diverse needs of individuals seeking weight loss. These programs recognize that factors such as age, gender, fitness level, medical conditions, and lifestyle all play a role in determining the most effective approach to weight loss. Traditional weight loss programs often rely on generic exercise routines and dietary recommendations, failing to account for the individual differences in body composition, metabolic rate, and personal circumstances. These approaches can lead to suboptimal results, increased frustration, and a higher likelihood of abandoning the weight loss journey altogether. Certain diet plans may also provide greater improvements in health markers — like blood sugar control and heart disease risk factors — compared to other eating patterns.

“I would separate a ‘diet’ from a program, which https://www.reddit.com/r/MealPrepSunday/comments/1hxdmck/best_app_for_meal_planningprep/ basically helps you stick to that ‘diet,’” Evan M. Forman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center) at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, tells TODAY.com. The Simple app (Wall Pilates) is one of the fastest-growing fitness solutions of 2025 (NY Post). Distress tolerance will be measured using an adapted version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire96 which assesses the ability to tolerate challenging eating-related experiences. Most Popular is calculated from the number of times each affiliate product was selected by Forbes Health users over a six month time period. When picking a diet, look for a program that’s realistic, sustainable, and backed by research.

How we chose the best weight loss programs

You then follow their app to know exactly what to eat and when (usually six times a day, which includes “grocery add-ins,” like low-fat plain yogurt and apple slices with almond butter) while having daily access to coaches as needed. The premade meals focus on lean proteins, healthy fat and certain “smart” carbohydrates combined with fiber and vegetables, according to the company’s website. Intermittent fasting can be an effective approach to weight loss or weight management, mostly because it tends to reduce people’s total energy (calorie) intake, says Monica Reinagel, licensed nutritionist and host of the Nutrition Diva podcast. The first six months, you are meeting approximately once a week, where people learn to eat healthy, add more physical activity to their lifestyle, learn to deal with stress and challenges in life that can disrupt your progress. News & World Report is separated into multiple lists, including best weight loss diet and best overall diet.

Mediterranean Diet: The Overall Choice

Using smaller bowls and plates will help you naturally reduce your portion size, as long as you don’t go back for seconds and thirds. If you’re tired, stressed or upset, it’s easy to turn to food to make yourself feel better, even though you may not actually be hungry. Chewing is the very first step in the digestive process, but all too often we eat too quickly, especially when we’re distracted or eating ‘on the hoof’. When you don’t chew your food properly, you put extra strain on your digestive system causing symptoms such as bloating, it also means you’re more likely to overeat as you don’t give the brain time to register when you’re full.

Keyto Diet

The combination of low-calorie vegetables and fibre may help you feel fuller and therefore eat less at your main meal. Add a dash of olive oil for greater satiety too, but avoid those pre-made salad dressings which usually contain sugar. It can seem like a better bargain to buy family or sharing packs, but this only leads to more temptation or overeating. Where possible, buy foods that come in single website servings or portions unless, of course, you do have a large family to feed. Any movement or exercise triggers a release of endorphins that allow you to feel happier, as well as helping you burn a few more calories.

Ask yourself why you’re eating

This is notable as the intervention period was impacted both by the transition to videoconferencing delivery and the broader COVID-19 pandemic, which substantially impacted many individuals’ dietary intake and physical activity patterns[69,70]. Promisingly, this outcome is consistent with previous research suggesting that lifestyle weight management intervention appears robust to alternate delivery formats (e.g., via telephone[1,71] or videoconferencing[23,72,73]) and delivery of intervention during global pandemics[23,72,73]. Results demonstrated no significant differences in weight change between conditions from completion of an initial weight-loss program to the end of the 20-month trial. There was also not a significant difference between conditions in the proportion of participants maintaining clinically-meaningful weight loss of 5% or more from baseline at month 24, with 60% of participants in both conditions meeting this threshold.

The No. 1 Food to Avoid to Reduce Cancer Risk

But a healthy weight takes more than just an injection or pill, research shows — it requires a comprehensive treatment plan that leads to real changes in our daily activities so we can keep the pounds off for good. Before starting any weight loss medication or intensive program, talk to your doctor—especially if you have health conditions. Review the official policy or program FAQ for the latest eligibility and safety information. Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less is a nationally recognized, evidence-based group program designed to help participants achieve lasting weight loss through education, community, and accountability. The Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire81–83 will be used to assess leisure-time physical activity. Total weekly energy expenditure is calculated as the sum of the caloric expenditure of each activity the participant engaged in duringthe prior week.

The weight loss list is focused on the most effective eating plans for losing weight and sustaining weight loss, while the best overall diet prioritizes weight management and healthy eating. “It’s incredibly important for weight loss programs to include cultural foods as this directly impacts a person’s adherence, sustainability and overall wellbeing,” Mok says. The best weight loss programs of 2025 include the Mediterranean Diet, WeightWatchers, Noom, Mayo Clinic Diet, new GLP-1 medications, and innovative fitness apps like Simple. These programs are ranked for their proven results, flexibility, and support, making it easier than ever to achieve sustainable weight loss this year. ABT incorporates mindfulness training designed to help individuals increase awareness of their perceptual, cognitive, and affective experiences relevant to weight control.

This treatment response heterogeneity calls for the development of adaptive interventions that provide the right treatment (or sequence of treatments), at the right time, for the right person. SMART designs were developed explicitly to build optimal adaptive interventions by using experimental design principles to answer critical questions for adaptive interventions. Participants will be assigned a calorie intake goal of 1200, 1500, or 1800 kcal/day based on body weight with the goal of producing a weight loss of 2–3 lbs/wk. Choosing candidate “second stage” treatments for sub-optimal responders to “first stage” state-of-the-art behavioral weight loss therapy (SBT), requires consideration of weight loss barriers.

• Some weight loss programs come with recurring fees or require buying branded meals.
• Most of us consume too much sugar in our diet and sugar is empty calories which means it offers no nutritional value.
• A common challenge in any weight loss program is hitting a plateau, where your progress stagnates despite continued effort.
• The primary aims were to compare treatment groups, which included all randomized participants, on percent weight change from baseline to 4- and 12-month follow-up and to assess the proportion of participants in each group achieving clinically significant WL (ie, ≥5%).
• Under this model, existing “extended-care” interventions provide continued treatment after the end of initial intervention[1,9].
• “Participants are often encouraged to track their intake (with calories, macronutrients or points) to bring awareness to your intake.” Other programs, such as Noom, take a more psychological approach that explores one’s relationship with food, focusing on behavioral change.

Medical

At month 12, 76.1% adaptive participants maintained losses of 5% or more from baseline vs 69.9% in the static group; however, this was not a statistically significant difference. From month 12 to 24, participants in both conditions experienced weight regain (2.27; 95% CI, 1.43 to 3.10 kg; and 2.19; 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.28 kg) in adaptive and static groups, respectively. A total of 255 participants were included in the Project STAR trial (Figure 1); 127 were randomized to the group static and 128 to the adaptive group. At initial intervention baseline, participants were aged a mean (SD) of 50.62 (11.30) years and had a BMI of 35.60 (4.15); 209 (82.0%) identified as women; 51 [20.0%] were Black, 25 [9.8%] were Hispanic or Latino, and 170 [66.7%] were non-Hispanic White.

Be prepared to adapt your lifestyle as necessary to maximize your chances of success. That mindset shift makes the easiest weight loss plan to follow one that lasts. The MIND diet, a combination of the DASH and Mediterranean diets, is designed to protect brain health. While its primary goal is cognitive support, it can also promote weight loss when practiced consistently. A 4-item scale adapted from Foster et al.84 will be used to measure participant weight loss goals.

Healthline’s review

This way of eating focuses on getting back to natural foods to improve health and prevent metabolic disease. If you are going to practice intermittent fasting, choose nourishing, minimally processed foods whenever you eat. Our top pick for weight loss, improvement in health markers, and sustainability? If you want to lose weight and improve your health — with a plan that works for you — you’ve come to the right place.