According to a recent Gallop poll, 55% of people would like to lose weight, while 43% of people worry about their weight either some or all of the time.
If you find yourself in this category and are considering a weight-loss program to support your goals, there are some factors to consider and pointers to increase your chances of success.
Learn the top-ranked diets for weight-loss according to the U.S. News & World Report 2022 Best Diets - and how to pick the best one for you.
It's worth noting that the two diets tied with WW for best diet for weight loss aren't weight-loss programs at all:
Related: U.S. News & World Report best diets of 2022 includes Mediterranean, DASH, flexitarian. Intermittent fasting, Sirtfood diet rank poorly, too restrictive.
There's no single best way to lose weight, but what all weight-loss plans have in common is that they produce a calorie deficit, meaning you'll either eat fewer calories than you previously ate, or boost the number of calories you burn through exercise, or a combination of the two.
Rather than focusing on the macronutrient breakdown of a plan (say, high protein or low fat), it's better to consider a plan that matches your needs since adherence is the main driver of weight-loss success. For instance, if you dine out or travel frequently, a weight-loss program, like Jenny Craig, that emphasizes pre-packaged meals and largely limits these activities isn't going to be the best fit. Here are 10 additional questions to ask yourself to narrow down the best diet plan for your needs:
In addition to these questions, it's also worth considering what (if anything) worked for you in the past and when and why it stopped working. Maybe you had successfully lost weight on a program but changed jobs or went through a breakup that interfered with your ability to lose weight at that time. Were there elements that you liked about the program? If so, you may want to re-enroll or find another weight-loss plan that will help you re-engage with those strategies.
Related: Losing weight is hard enough, but maintaining that slimmer figure can seem impossible. People who lost weight and kept it off for more than a year offer tips.
Unsurprisingly, losing weight is easier than keeping those excess pounds off. Despite the challenge, there are things you can do to improve your odds of success. Here are the factors that help.
Related: Don't go at it alone, leave room for treats and watch out for 'red flag' words.