Table of Contents
- To determine the best weight loss programs in 2024, we personally subscribed to nine top weight loss programs for two weeks each. During testing, we followed the program and participated in online member communities and coaching sessions.
- We gathered insights about healthy eating and weight loss from interviews with experts, including dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors.
- We tested each program, evaluating each feature users would need, including program length, cost vs. value, the nutritional advice and support offered through meal plans, recipes, and tracking, community support, customer service, and any additional features, like coaching. We also spoke to other members of the app to gain insight about others’ experiences using it.
- We chose Noom as the overall best weight loss program because it has the longest plan option at 12 months, and focuses heavily on mental health support, making and celebrating small, sustainable changes, and assessing your lifestyle as it correlates to your weight loss goals.
Everyone can benefit from support and resources to achieve specific goals in their life and losing weight to better your health is no different. In fact, getting support to help you lose weight may be one of the most crucial steps you take since there are so many factors involved in weight management. One of the tools to help you achieve your health goals is a weight loss program. Unlike diets that mainly focus on specific eating guidelines, the best weight loss programs offer comprehensive support, including meal plans, exercise instructions, and sometimes counseling, which can provide the structured support needed for effective weight management.
Of course, weight loss programs may not be right for everyone, and you should always consult with your doctor to develop a plan for losing weight that’s right for you. But if you’re looking for the best weight loss programs to achieve your goals, we’re here to help.
Our Handbook Team has researched and tested a number of programs to find out the potential benefits and if the program is worth the hundreds of dollars you’ll pay in annual membership fees. We also consulted with multiple registered dieticians to recommend the best weight loss programs that offer accurate and effective nutritional and weight loss strategies. We’re here to provide unbiased information so you can make a knowledgeable decision for sustainable health.
Ready to see what we found for the best weight loss programs of 2024? Here’s our list, from the best overall weight loss programs to those that serve individual needs, like those for runners and intermittent fasters.
Our picks of the best weight loss programs
- Noom: Best overall
- Simple: Best for beginners
- Mayo Clinic Diet: Best for flexibility
- Joggo: Best for runners
- Nutrisystem: Best for convenience
- DoFasting: Best for intermittent fasting beginners
- Perfect Body: Best for weight loss recipes
There are considerable mental health benefits associated with healthy eating. But we know that with so many weight loss programs out there, it can be hard to know which one to choose. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to share the best information about the tools available. We’re invested in helping you find a weight loss plan that’s safe and supportive.
Through surveys, hands-on testing, interviews, and insights from healthy living experts, we’ve formulated a strongly informed perspective that we’re sharing with you here.
If you’re affected by an eating disorder or experience patterns of disordered eating, we suggest talking to a dietitian, therapist, or counselor who specializes in eating disorders before you enroll in any weight loss program.
Compare the best weight loss programs
Program | Starting monthly cost | Services | Key points | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
$17.50 | App-based program; Food and activity tracking; Recipes; Coaching | Program length: 1–12 months; Focus on mental health | Visit Site | |
$17.99 | App-based program, educational content, weekly meal plans | Program length: 1, 3, 6, and 9-month plans; AI health coach; Menu scanner; Nutrition scores | Visit Site | |
$19.99 | App and website; 6 meal plans; Recipes and shopping lists; At-home workouts | Program length: 3 months; No calorie counting; Focus on education | Visit Site | |
$33 | Weekly meal plans; Customized training regimens | Program length: 2, 4, or 6 months; App does list the calories you eat and burn | Visit Site | |
$339.99 | Website and app; Meal delivery; Weight loss program | Program length: Monthly; 130+ menu options; Plans start at $11.08/day | Visit Site | |
$38 | Website and app; Food and activity tracking; Workout routines; Weekly health report | Program length: 1, 3 and 6 months; Meal recommendations; Fasting timer; Water tracker | Visit Site | |
$39 | App-based program, 24/7 coaching, tracking tools | Program length: 1, 3, and 6-month plans, personalized meal plans | Visit Site | |
$23 | WW app and website; Online community; 24/7 coaching; Educational content and recipes | Program length: 3 to 10 months; 3 different plan options | Visit Site |
*These prices often vary based on location and promotions.
The best weight loss programs reviews
Best overall: Noom
Best for beginners: Simple
Best for flexibility: Mayo Clinic Diet
Best for runners: Joggo
Best program for convenience: Nutrisystem
Best for intermittent fasting: DoFasting
Best for Weight Loss Recipes: Perfect Body
Best affordable program: WeightWatchers (WW)
What to consider when choosing a weight loss program
Healthy living, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, is directly related to mental health and overall wellness. A nutritious diet supports strong bones and muscles, combats depression, and lowers the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, while regular physical activity can alleviate anxiety and depression and improve sleep.
In some situations, weight loss programs can help you learn more about how nutrition can support your overall health. However, we understand that weight loss is a sensitive topic. Research shows feelings of shame, self-criticism, and social comparison can hinder weight management and eating habits. Some weight loss programs can even intensify these feelings.
If you’re affected by an eating disorder or experience patterns of disordered eating, we suggest talking to a dietitian, therapist, or counselor who specializes in eating disorders before you enroll in any weight loss program.
It’s also important to consider that weight loss programs vary from one to the next, with different tools, support, and methodologies. Choosing the right weight loss program for your needs means finding one that suits your lifestyle, budget, personality, and personal history with food and exercise.
Our Handbook Team is here to offer guidance and help you find weight loss platforms that are positive, fun to use, and supportive of healthy and steady weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week. When choosing your weight loss program, keep these factors in mind:
Your relationship with food
If you’re affected by an eating disorder or experience patterns of disordered eating, speak with a dietitian, therapist, or counselor who specializes in eating disorders before you enroll in any weight loss program. Those who experience feelings of guilt or shame associated with eating should choose a program that encourages a healthy relationship with food, frequent meals rather than periods of fasting, flexible food choices, and a limited focus on calorie counting.
It’s also important to prioritize a program that provides ongoing coaching for added encouragement and support. “An effective weight loss program should ideally offer behavioral support and coaching to address the emotional and psychological aspects of eating. Look for programs that provide guidance on portion control, mindful eating, and strategies to cope with emotional triggers for overeating,” says Chrissy Arsenault, a registered dietitian at Trainer Academy.
Your knowledge base
Are you familiar with nutrition, exercise, and weight loss strategies? Or do you consider yourself a beginner when it comes to weight loss? Some programs, such as the Mayo Clinic Diet, offer more education and support, making all the difference if you’re new to weight loss.
Eating habits promoted by the program
A quality weight loss program will help you establish healthy eating habits to support you for the rest of your life. Beware of any system that teaches severe food restriction, labels foods as “good” or “bad,” or doesn’t provide a well-rounded variety of foods in your meal plan.
“Be wary of any programs that promise rapid, unsustainable weight loss or severely restrict entire food groups or certain foods,” says Arensault. “The nutrition plan should promote a focus on nutrient density and incorporate a balanced intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals.
How much do weight loss programs cost?
The cost of weight loss programs varies widely based on the level of support offered, the credentials of the health professionals offering that support, and whether food is provided with the program. For instance, one of the least expensive programs is Joggo with an average price of $12 per month. It’s basically an automated system with little in the way of help from real people or health experts, but if you’re comfortable with a do-it-yourself plan, this is one way to save money.
At the other end of the spectrum is Nutrisystem, a weight loss program that can run up to nearly $400 per month but delivers every meal and snack to your door.
The length of membership you commit to also makes a big difference in the monthly cost for some programs. For instance, Noom charges $70 per month if you sign up for only one month, but $17.50 per month if you subscribe and pay for 12 months at a time.
What is the difference between a diet and a weight loss program?
Weight loss programs and diets have several differences. Diets typically focus on following specific nutritional guidelines, such as the ketogenic diet’s high-fat, low-carb food plan, or the Mediterranean diet’s emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. In contrast, weight loss programs often offer a more comprehensive package, including meal plans, exercise routines, and support from professionals or a community. People may choose a weight loss program over a simple diet because they provide structured plans, motivational support, and accountability, which can be crucial for long-term success.
Our weight loss program testing experience
Our Handbook Team members subscribed to nine top weight loss programs as mystery shoppers. During that time, we did the following:
By becoming familiar with the websites and apps of each program and using them as a normal customer would, we were able to gain a detailed view of how easy (or hard) it was to follow the program in daily life.
Participating in online member communities and coaching sessions gave us insight into the type of support each program offered. And our focus groups and interviews with doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, and mental health experts helped us learn more about the connections between weight loss, physical health, and mental health.
One detail we focused on was the sustainability of each program. It’s vital that a successful weight loss program teaches you how to establish and maintain healthy habits for long-term weight loss, and not all companies are standouts at this skill.
From our tester
“There was a pattern in our research of people joining and losing weight, falling back into old patterns, regaining weight and coming back full circle.”
Our testing results, experiences of other customers compiled from interviews and surveys, and professional opinions of health experts have all informed the conclusions we’ve arrived at and share in this review of the best weight loss programs.
Learn more about our healthy living review methodology.
Frequently asked questions
The surest and safest way to lose weight is to combine a healthy diet that includes a variety of whole foods with a program of regular exercise. Between the calories you take in with your diet and those you burn through exercise and daily activity, you’ll need to be in a calorie deficit to see weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that you eat fewer calories than your body is burning each day. Adequate protein and fiber intake are also important to help ward off hunger between meals; a dietitian can help you find the right protein level for your body.
The United States Department of Agriculture recommends a weight loss rate of no more than 1–2 pounds per week.
Promises of more than 2 pounds per week of weight loss, a requirement to eat only foods provided by the program, and shaming of food choices or body weight in any way are all things to avoid when shopping for weight loss programs.
Bringing your weight into a healthy range helps both your body and mind. The physical benefits include minimizing your risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, and sleep apnea, among other conditions. Even small weight loss, just 5 percent of your body weight, can result in marked improvements in health measures like blood glucose, triglycerides, and inflammation. These are all risk factors for the health conditions listed above, so lowering levels by losing weight also lowers your risk of the chronic diseases associated with obesity. In addition to physical health, research shows that weight loss offers a number of benefits for mental and emotional health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 17). Adult obesity facts. Link
- Sarwer, D. B., & Polonsky, H. M. (2016). The psychosocial burden of obesity. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, 45(3), 677–688. Link
- Ramìrez-Velez, R., Izquierdo, M., Kastro-Astrudillo, K., Medrano-Mena, C., Monroy-Dìaz, A.L., Castellanos-Vega, R., et al. Weight loss after 12 weeks of exercise and.or nutritional guidance is not obligatory for induced changes in local fat/lean mass indexes in adults with excess of adiposity. Nutrients. 12(8), 2231. Link
- Standard American diet. NutritionFacts.org. (n.d.). Link
- Mayo Clinic. Eating disorders. Link
- Fiorentino, T.V. (2022) Intermittent fasting and metabolic health. Nutrients. 14(3), 631. Link
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health effects of overweight and obesity. Link
- Magkos F., Fraterrigo G., Yoshino J., Luecking C., Kirbach K., Kelly S.C., et al. (2016) Effects of moderate and progressive subsequent weight loss on metabolic function and adipose tissue in humans with obesity. Cell Metabolism. 23(4), 591-601. Link
- Lasikiewicz L., Myrissa K., Hayland A, & Lawton C.L. (2014). Psychological benefits of weight loss following behavioural and/or dietary weight loss interventions. A systematic research review. 72, 123-137. Link
- Mayo Clinic. Healthy Lifestyle Weight Loss. Link
- United States Department of Agriculture. Interested in losing weight? Link