Things You Need To Know About Weight Loss Plans
Over the years now, obesity has become a health crisis in the country. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015-2016, about 93.3 million adults in the country were affected by obesity. It is an illness that acts as a prelude to other conditions like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancers. There are multiple causes of obesity, and one of them is unhealthy food intake by most people. Food and nutrition are extremely important when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and as more and more people understand its importance, they are finding ways to make an informed dietary choice and exercise to shed that extra weight.
It is because of this awareness and understanding, weight loss plans have become extremely popular among people in the country, and many are following the path of living a healthy life by consuming nutritional intake of food.
What is a weight loss plan?
A weight loss plan is a program that focuses on diet and nutrition that helps individuals lose a certain amount of weight. While exercise is an important part of your weight loss journey, food is equally, and at times, more important than working out. And to cater to this aspect, there are some meal delivery services that focus on weight loss food plans within which there are options for specific diet meals that you can choose from.
How do weight loss plans work?
You can go to the meal delivery service websites and browse through their weight loss diet meals to subscribe to a meal plan that suits you best. Most of these options are DIY meal kits where you get a box of healthy, organic ingredients along with a recipe that you can follow to prepare their food.
Types of meal plans and their purpose
Some of the common meal plans include keto, balanced living, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan. Each serves a different purpose for an individual’s weight loss journey.
- Keto
Also called a ketogenic, it is a low-carb and high-fat diet. It includes drastically reducing your carbs and replacing them with fat. This change puts the body into a metabolic state called ketosis during which the body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. The food in this meal plan does not include carbs, but only protein and fat. - Balanced living
As the name suggests, this includes a little something of everything from the food group. From fat to protein to carbs, everything in this meal plan is in a defined portion to help you avoid overloading on calories. - Paleo
This meal includes meat, fish, eggs, seeds, nuts, fruits, and veggies along with healthy fats and oils. Inspired by the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, this meal focuses on following a whole-food-based diet which helps in weight loss. - Vegetarian, with vegan options
A plant-based diet has been known to be healthy and also helps in weight loss. While some vegetarians consume dairy products, these meal plans also have vegan options.
Some even have meal plans specific to any condition that the user may be fighting – for example – diabetes or heart diseases. There are certain plans that focus on a low-cholesterol diet, which is beneficial for heart patients.
How much do weight loss plans cost?
Every weight loss plan will vary depending on the provider and the meal plan you choose to subscribe to. Depending on the service, shipping cost, state sale taxes, and meal plans, these costs can vary; you may compare some of the top providers’ plans to choose what suits you best.
Are weight loss plans safe?
It is always advisable that you consult a nutritionist or dietician before changing your diet to support the weight loss journey. While consuming organic and nutritious food is always a good idea, a professional can help you decide what meal plan will work best for you. As you may already have made other lifestyle changes, what food and nutrition will support these changes can be answered by a professional.
Does Medicare cover weight loss plans?
Medicare is a health insurance plan for those over the age of 65 years or those under 65 living with certain disabilities. As per Medicare Part B, if the doctor evaluates your Body Mass Index (BMI) to be 30 or higher, it enables you to get covered for behavioral therapy sessions to help you lose weight.
This comprises nutrition therapy which may include:
- Nutrition and lifestyle assessment
- Nutritional counseling
- Follow up visits and check-ups
To get more clarity on this, it is best to speak to your Medicare agent to help you with your specific requirements.
Top weight loss plans
Some of the most popular weight loss plan providers are as follows:
Nutrisystem
- Portioned servings
- Convenient food recipes
- Varied menu
Read the Nutrisystem review here
Noom
- Personalized meal programs
- One-on-one coaching
- Noom community
Jenny Craig
- Personal consultation
- Free weight loss analysis
- Chef-crafted meals
Read the Jenny Craig review here
Are weight loss plans worth it?
Weight loss is a long-term journey and to reach a certain goal, it is essential that you stick to not just a crash diet but follow a healthy lifestyle that includes nutritional food. There is research to suggest that crash diets help in weight loss, but it is essential to maintain good food choices in order to retain a healthy weight. While you may invest in healthy meals, you must also look at other aspects of your lifestyle which need change to help you lead a wholesome life.
