Overweight or obesity is an epidemic in the United States and in other developed countries. More than half of Americans are overweight—including at least 1 in 5 children. Nearly one third are obese. Obesity is on the rise in our society because food is abundant and physical activity is optional.

For most people who are overweight or obese, the safest and most effective way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. If you eat less and exercise more, you will lose weight. As simple as that may be, there are multitudes of weight loss programs available and thus a bit confusing. To help you sort things out, below are steps you can use as guide in evaluating the program you may like to use:

1. Check What Weight Loss Programs Are Available. a. Use the Internet to search for available weight loss programs.

b. Ask your friends what experiences they had with whatever weight loss program they have already taken.

c. The FTC report (Red Flag Bogus Weight Loss Claims) was released to help the public identify products that use fraudulent weight loss claims in their advertisement. Following are the seven warnings of the report. Use this list in discounting programs that have these characteristics. i. Products that claim you can lose two or more pounds per week without dieting and exercise. ii. Products that claim you can eat whatever you want and however much you want with no limits. iii. Products that claim your weight loss will be permanent even after you stop using the product. iv. Products that claim they will block absorption of calories or fat and lead to substantial weight loss. v. Products that claim you can safely lose more than three pounds a week for more than four weeks at a time. vi. Products that claim all users will lose substantial weight. No product can work for everyone. vii. Products that are worn on the body or rubbed on the skin will cause substantial weight loss.

2. Find out about Cost a. Obtain a detailed price breakdown of the program to include any weekly, monthly or annual membership or program fees. If you are considering a program that provides food, ask for the average cost for a month's meals as well as additional food you must buy at the store.

3. Ask About Food and Exercise a. Determine details about what foods the program uses and the number of calories you will be eating every day. Determine if the program encourages increased physical activity like exercise. Any weight reduction plan that promises permanent weight loss without changing how you eat or increasing your physical activity is a scam.

b. A healthy weight-loss program will encourage you to follow the government's Nutrition Guidelines for Americans, which includes at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, grains, lean meats and low-fat or non-fat dairy.

4. Ask About the Qualification of Staff a. Ask if the program includes assistance from staff or counselors. If it is provided, find out about their training and credentials. Ask about what you can expect from them such as what type of help you'll receive (one-on-one or group support). Make sure to determine how often counseling or group support will be provided.

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