Which Commercial Diet Plans Work Best?

When the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Medical School weighs in on weight loss, you’ll want to wait to hear what they have to say.

Survey says: Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are the two most effective commercial diet plans. Johns Hopkins University researchers checked out 11 popular plans and the top two -- which also are among the most popular -- had the best evidence that dieters could lose weight and keep it off for at least a year.

In the research, Jenny Craig dieters lost about 15 pounds and kept it off for at least 12 months while Weight Watchers winnowed away an average of at least 8 pounds keeping it off for at least 12 months.

While most dieters remained overweight, they did lose between 3 and 5 percent of their body weight. And that’s enough, doctors say, to lead to health benefits.

The review looked at 11 popular diet programs that include support or counseling services and fees for products or services.