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Seeking professional support or joining commercial weight loss programs has proven to help people lose weight and ultimately stick to long term lifestyle changes including healthier eating and exercise habits.

Things to consider when choosing a weight loss program

Safety: The meal plan should include the recommended daily intake (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals and protein. It should be lower on calories and fat intake but not on nutrients essential for your body. Your doctor will be able to provide information on the appropriate amount of calories you should be consuming in order to be losing weight at a healthy rate
Gradual weight loss: The program should be directed towards steady, slow weight loss unless otherwise advised by your doctor. A normal weight loss would be about 1 or 2 pounds a week
Other considerations: The program should include professional assistance from nutritionists, doctors and sometimes mental health professionals. Weight loss goals should be set by both the client and the health professionals and should include flexible meal options and exercise suitable to the client's health conditions.
Top 5 Weight Loss Programs

1. Weight Watchers:

Weight Watchers has been a successful program since 1960. Although there have been changes to the program throughout the years, it has always focused on the dieter's lifestyle as a whole. Weight Watchers provides professional and member support online and through in person meetings. Its aim is to "teach (individuals) how to eat right, achieve long-term weight management and a healthy lifestyle."

Weight Watchers "Momentum" is the newest version of the program. It combines the "point" system of tracking food intake with a focus on filling foods that are low in energy but high in satiety.
The innovative point system to help dieters choose foods wisely without having to feel like their ever "dieting" combined with group support are what makes Weight Watchers one of the most successful weight loss programs today.

2. The Atkins Diet:

The program is a low-carbohydrate diet created by the late Dr. Robert Atkins. The diet is based on the idea that when you eat too many carbohydrates (carbs), your body burns some of those carbs for energy and stores the excess as fat. Eating carbs produces insulin, which leads to increased weight gain and hunger. By replacing carbs with protein and vegetables, the dieter will use stored fat for energy instead of burning glucose from carbs"

3. The South Beach Diet:

This program was created by Dr. Agatston and is based on a high-protein, low carbohydrate, and fat-controlled diet. The program is based on the idea that there are "right" carbs and fats. When a person eats bad carbs and fats, he or she feels hungrier, causing them to eat more, which causes weight gain. The program is divided into three different phases. In Phase 1, the dieter eats normal portion sizes but all carbs are restricted. This is the strictest phase in the program and lasts for approximately two weeks. It emphasizes lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, and fish. Low-glycemic vegetables are allowed in addition to low-fat cheese, nuts and eggs. In Phase 2, some of the "banned" foods are slowly re-introduced while weight loss continues to approximately 1-2 pounds per week. The dieter remains in Phase 2 until the desired amount of weight is lost. Phase 3 is the "maintenance" phase of the program and should be followed for life. If the dieter's weight returns, he or she returns to Phase 1.

4. The Pritikin Principle ("Calorie Density Solution"):

The program is based on a low-fat diet, mainly focused on vegetables, fruits and grains and only 10% of fat consumption. The program promotes eating low-calorie dense foods six to seven times a day in order to reduce hunger and accelerate the metabolism to lose excess body fat. The program is based on the belief that the higher the caloric density of any given food, the more likely it is to cause weight gain because the dieter will need to consume more calories to feel full than if he or she choose foods with a lower caloric density. Exercising on a daily basis for at least half an hour is recommended for achieving better results and a healthy lifestyle.

5. NutriSystem Advanced:

The program is based on a low glycemic index, low fat, high-fiber, and high-protein diet. It provides pre-packaged foods available to order online that come in microwavable pouches and exact portion sizes, so the dieter doesn't have to worry about cooking and controlling portions. The meals are low in sodium, saturated and trans-fats, and they contain omega 3 and soluble fiber to promote heart health and satiation. Apart from the pre-portioned meals, the program encourages people to modify their lifestyle such as incorporating exercise on a daily basis to achieve long-lasting weight loss.

It is important to consult with your doctor prior to starting any weight loss program.