Optifast: At a Glance
Established in 1974, Optifast is a diet plan that produces weight loss through use of replacement meals and individual counseling.
The Optifast website is well executed and easy to navigate and states that the diet is a ‘serious solution to weight loss’. Apparently targeting those who are older, photographs on the site mainly feature middle-aged people of various body sizes who appear to be healthy. This diet appears to focus more on developing general health and self-esteem as opposed to becoming thin or muscular.
The Optifast website does a good job of explaining how the plan has been proven to achieve an average weight loss of 52 pounds, reduce cholesterol levels by 15% and blood pressure by 10%. The site features a number of testimonials from people who have been successful with this diet. There is no FAQ section, but you can find most answers to any concerns in the material presented on the website.
The Optifast diet can help users get ready to undergo weight loss surgery and an explanation is given as to the importance of shedding some weight prior to surgery.
Optifast: Facts
Optifast depends completely on using meal substitutes at first, to get a head start on losing weight before the user goes into the extended transition stage. But the website does not elaborate on the length of this phase or the quantities of products that can be consumed during the phase. One area displays the soups, shakes and bars that are available, along with all the nutritional information for each.
The duration of the plan’s second phase is 4-6 weeks; at that time, under guidance from the Optifast counselor, the dieter can begin to add home-cooked meals to their regimen. Recommended recipes can be found on the Optifast site along with pointers on portions sizes, calories and exercise. While on the diet, the dieter goes to meetings at a local Optifast center (which can be found using the center locator on the website). There they receive personal counseling in addition to participating in small group discussions and support groups. In addition, the center will get in touch with the person’s doctor if health issues need to be addressed.
Optifast: Positive Features
- Since Optifast offers prepared products, you do not have to worry about whether you are consuming too many calories.
- Optifast is a well-known way of weight reduction, and it has positive testimonials in the media.
- The Optifast plan is helpful for those who are getting ready to undergo Bariatric (weight loss) surgery.
- Individual and group supports are both available to the dieter.
- A person’s general health benefits from this diet, including levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.
- The company has been operating for more than three decades.
- The plan helps people learn how to choose healthy foods.
Optifast: Negative Features
- Pricing is not provided on the Optifast website.
- There is inadequate information about the diet timetable and eating plan.
- Not all dieters will be satisfied to only eat replacement meal products.
- The dieter must live within reasonable proximity to an Optifast center so that he or she can make regular visits.
Optifast: Conclusion
Without being aware of the price of the Optifast diet plan, it is difficult to evaluate whether it is worth the money. But for a person who is a bit older and wants a supportive program with guidance, where health is emphasized over appearance, Optifast seems to be just as good as other similar programs, like Slimfast and Smart for Life.