If the holiday season has left your middle a bit thicker and your wallet a bit thinner, you may want to check out one of the many Internet weight loss sites. Three of the most comprehensive sites are eDiets.com, Cyberdiet.com and DietWatch.com. Each site uses a combination of tools to help manage your diet. Most of the sites are free, although some charge a small monthly fee.
The sites employ licensed dietitians to help members plan and implement customized diet programs. The sites also provide shopping information, success stories, member chat rooms, e-mail newsletters, support groups and a lifeline to dietitians and psychologists. Later this month, DietWatch.com will launch eCounseling.com in response to members’ requests for more one-on-one support.
Dr. Leslie Womble, instructor at the Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, recently received a grant to study the effectiveness of an Internet-based weight loss program versus a traditional program. “It is important to assess the safety and efficacy of these interventions in order to educate consumers,” she notes.
Kristin Arnold, 24, of Chicago found Cyberdiet.com last April while doing a search to “find some help losing weight.” She has since lost 57 pounds. “I found the level of support to be amazing,” she says. “I use the site to keep track of what I am eating and for motivation that I get through the discussion pages and the success page.”
For some, weight loss is not the only goal. “I have not lost as much weight as I would like to, but I have kept it off, and more importantly, I have learned to set realistic goals, eat healthy and exercise regularly,” says Debbie Lawrence, 43, of Glenview, a self-proclaimed Cyberdiet fan since 1998.
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Lisa Drayer, a registered dietitian and editorial manager for DietWatch.com, says that an online program can work in conjunction with more traditional programs like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.
“We have many users who are currently on Weight Watchers, and our nutrition calculator includes Weight Watchers’ foods. We don’t think it is realistic for a person to stick to one specific diet plan that may not suit his or her needs. Rather, we provide guidance with nutrition goals and weight recommendations and allow the user to decide which program is best.”