The Real Cost of Weight Loss Programs

By brightfeather on May 23rd, 2007

Many people are worried about excess body fat – no wonder, many because many of us have much more body fat than they need for good health. But when are we too fat? How much should we weigh? And at what point does that weight negatively affect our health? Providing a straight answer to these questions is not easy. If you’re still deliberating then the information at this website may be helpful.

Studies say North Americans are getting fatter every year. Many are obsessed with weight loss, and the business of losing weight has ballooned into a $46.3 billion industry. So how much would you be willing to spend to lose 30 pounds?

BankRate.com provides a breakdown of what it costs to lose 30 pounds on five popular weight loss programs.

1. Jenny Craig
Three membership levels with staggered sign-up costs: Jenny TuneUp, $49, for those who have less than 10 pounds to lose; Jenny OnTrack, $199, a six-month program; and Jenny Rewards, $399 or $358, a 12-month program that rewards dieters efforts and weight loss with discounts on food. There’s also an At Home option which is similar to the in-store options except you also pay for shipping and have consultations over the phone.

Sign-up costs include weekly one-on-one counseling, personalized menus, motivational plans and assorted manuals and guides, depending on your membership level. Then, there’s the cost of food. The prepackaged foods generally cost $11 to $17 per day, or $77 to $119 per week.

Total cost: $49, $199 and $399 with a payment plan or $358 upfront, not including food.

2. L A Weight Loss
A weekly fee of $5 to $7 that must be paid upfront. Some centers may offer monthly payment plans. You’ll also pay a setup fee. That fee amount is not readily available. One center representative we spoke with quoted a setup fee of $174, but none of the other L A Weight Loss clinics we contacted would disclose the setup fee without first seeing the client. The cost of the L A Lite bars will be between $18 and $30 per week depending on whether they’re bought in bulk. You’ll spend less if you participate online. The initial cost to do the plan online is $219, including a four-week supply of L A Lites, a sample of snacks and vitamins, menu plan and access to the dieters hot line.

Total cost: Calculating the cost with a setup fee of $174 and $7 per week charge, the total cost of the plan is $685 for 73 weeks, not including the cost of food and L A Lite bars; initial cost online $219.

3. NutriSystem
If, on average, you lose two pounds a week, the diet will take about four months. It’s cheaper to sign up for the Auto-Delivery Savings program (the food keeps coming until you cancel it), which costs $293.72, including shipping, per month.

Total cost: $1,174.88, including all food, except fresh greens and dairy.

4. Weight Watchers
Registration is between $15 and $20, depending on location. Weekly meeting fees range from $9.99 to $13.99, again, location-dependent. The standard monthly plan for Weight Watchers Online costs $46.90 the first month and $16.95 for subsequent months. Plan to lose one to two pounds per week for 20 weeks to reach a 30-pound weight-loss goal.

The total cost is between $214.80 and $299.80, depending on location, or $97.75 online, not including food.

5. The Zone Diet
Signing up for the 30-day plan will cost $39.99 per day.

If you just want to try it out for two weeks, you’ll be paying $44.99 per day.

The average Zone dieter loses between eight and 10 pounds per month, and it will take three or four months to drop 30 pounds.

Total cost: $3,599.10 to $4,798.80

Questions to ask before signing up:

What are the costs for membership, weekly fees, food, supplements, maintenance and counseling?
What’s the payment schedule?
Are any costs covered under health insurance?
What is the refund policy?
What are the health risks?
How many participants succeed in reaching their goal and keeping off the weight?
What kind of professional supervision or counseling is provided?