Question

1. Do you agree/disagree that "Commercial" Diet Programs teach healthy eating habits? Please use a evidence to support your reasoning..

2. what doesTrue physical fitness consists of three major components. Please list them.

Answer 1

Commercial Diet Programs can teach healthy eating habits.

Obesity is a matter of rising concern, which has multidimensional and widespread implications reflecting on the health and economy of a country. There is epidemiological evidence showing that the increasing rate of obesity is proportional to the rate of occurrence of lifestyle diseases. It has been estimated that 160 million Americans comes under the obese or overweight category. Three-fourth of American men and 60% plus of women have become victims of this ever-growing monster. Nearly 30% of the younger population under age 20 is either obese or overweight, up from 19% in 1980. All these points to the need for healthy eating habits that need to be begun right from a pretty young age. People tend to invest more in weight loss drinks, pills etc., without knowing whether it is really effective or not. Healthy eating combined with exercising is the only practical solution to obesity and lifestyle diseases. Healthy eating means having a balanced diet and enjoying the food at the same time with portion control, healthy cooking skills, etc. These are being dealt with carefully, effortlessly, and effectively by commercial diet programs.

On reviewing some of the most popular commercial diet programs including Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, Medifast, OPTIFAST etc., it was understood that commercial diet programs can teach healthy eating habits. Most successful plans had social support where they integrate teamwork. The only diet plans that work are those that people stick with, and with some companionship to reach the target one is more likely to stick on and be successful. This is how many of the commercial diet programs become successful in teaching healthy eating habits. They evaluate the progress of a client with several parameters in multiple sessions other than providing them with what should be followed for healthy eating like portion size, number of meals per day, target weight, food record etc. If someone follows a diet plan of their own this support and companionship is not available. Thus consistent weight loss and sustainability of weight loss becomes difficult without a commercial diet program.

Weight Watchers, the oldest and the well-known commercial diet plan, has the biggest market share and has a proven track record in this field. This is a high-intensity program, which needs attending a minimum of 12 sessions a year. This is one of the low-cost options and is affordable. In a comparative study, it was found that the participants of the Weight Watchers program had more consistent weight loss, and sustained it beyond one year. The study found the Weight Watchers group lost almost 8 pounds, which was 2.6% more weight loss than the control group.