Tip For Saving When Dieting
One would think that going on a diet would mean saving money since you supposedly eat less food. If you decide to do your diet through a commercial program, however, it can cost more than $10 a pound to lose that unwanted weight. According to an article from the New York Times on the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) website, there is also no proof that any of the commercial diets available even work:
Although millions of people pay billions of dollars each year for the promise of a svelte future, there is little scientific support for claims that commercial diets can provide large-scale, long-term weight loss. And there is sometimes little science in the design of their programs. Many sell prepackaged food as magic potions for reducing and still give short shrift to developing the patterns of eating and exercise that experts say are crucial in keeping weight off.
The amount it costs to lose a pound of fat through the commercial diet programs also ranges widely depending on the diet you choose:
The Cost Of Losing Weight Average cost per pound of weight loss during various 12-week diet programs. Women were an average of 37 percent above their ideal body weight at the program's start, men 27 percent above.
Medically supervised, very low calorie diets
HMR: $7.94 Medifast: $6.85 Optifast: $9.88 United Weight Control: $11.56 Balanced low calorie diets run by dietitians or non-medical personnel
Diet Center: $4.08 Jenny Craig: $10.43 Nutrisystems: $8.62 Registered Dietitian: $5.80 Weight Watchers: $1.10 Volunteer-staffed or self-health support groups
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly): $0.03 Overeaters Anonymous: $0.00 Source: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
When researching which diet to try, take into account the price per pound it's going to cost you to to lose the weight. This will help you keep some money in your pockets as you lose those unwanted pounds.
(Hat Tip: StressLess Financial Blog)
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