Best Weight Loss Programs Of 2025, Reviewed By A Dietitian

• Best for Diet Flexibility: WeightWatchers
• Best Psychology-Based Program: Noom
• Best Low-Carb Weight Loss Program: Atkins
• Best Program for Long-Term Sustainability: The Mayo Clinic Diet
• Best Physician-Focused Program: Found

To find the best weight loss programs of 2025, the Forbes Health editorial team worked with our expert panelists to evaluate a wide range of commercial weight loss programs. The winners included on this list were recommended by at least two Forbes Health Advisory Board members. Star ratings were intentionally omitted due to the fact that weight loss, and the methods that inspire it, vary greatly based on personal health history and preferences.

Commercial weight loss programs can take many forms including calorie-counting plans, pre-packaged meals and mindfulness routines that attempt to change one’s relationship with food. While many modern programs, such as WeightWatchers and Noom, are purchased through a subscription plan, some, like Atkins, operate through the purchase of bespoke meals. Below, you’ll learn how these programs use simple dietary philosophies to encourage weight loss.

How Weight Loss Programs Work

Most popular weight loss programs work by utilizing methods that create a calorie deficit. In simple terms, this means burning more calories than you consume.

“For example, the Atkins Diet focuses on reducing carbohydrate intake and therefore lowering overall calorie intake,” explains Mascha Davis, a registered dietitian nutritionist, author of “Eat Your Vegetables” and a Forbes Health Advisory Board member. “Weight Watchers (WW) uses a point system to track food, promoting portion control while allowing flexibility in food choices.”

“The most commonly used strategies revolve around calorie control,” adds Brittany Werner, a registered dietitian and Forbes Health Advisory Board member. “Participants are often encouraged to track their intake (with calories, macronutrients or points) to bring awareness to your intake.” Other programs, such as Noom, take a more psychological approach that explores one’s relationship with food, focusing on behavioral change.

More recently, programs like WeightWatchers, Noom, Found and Mayo Clinic Diet have incorporated GLP-1 medications to assist in the weight loss process. These add-ons to the traditional program connect users to clinicians who can prescribe generic compounded semaglutide or brand-name formulas such as Ozempic. Because a prescription is required, this route is costly compared to traditional weight loss programs.

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Noom Sustainable Weight Loss Program

• Prioritizes a balanced relationship with food
• Uses a quiz to create a custom plan and estimated timeline
• Weight, food and exercise logging tool to manage your health
• $70/mo or $209/year with alternate options available
• Over 45 million downloads and 45k+ 5-star reviews

Take Quiz

On Noom's Website

As popular and effective as some commercial weight loss programs may be, there are pros and cons to these plans that people should be aware of. On the plus side, “they provide clear guidelines and structure,” says Davis, “and they may include accountability measures, such as check-ins and tracking, which can help with consistency.”

With regard to downsides, however, both Werner and Davis agree that the lack of personalization in commercial weight loss programs may present a problem for some people. For example, because these programs don’t consider a person’s medical history, prescription medications or one’s potential history with eating disorders, they may be harmful without medical supervision. Both experts also note a lack of long-term, peer-reviewed research on many commercial weight loss methods means that proven scientific backing remains limited.

In practice, there’s the additional challenge of sticking to the routine on your own. “Some popular programs promote very rigid and restrictive guidelines that are challenging to maintain long term,” adds Werner, which can make the weight loss process more overwhelming than it needs to be.

Following these programs can be exceptionally difficult for those who love going out to eat, adds Neel Raval, M.D., a board-certified sports medicine physician and Forbes Health Advisory Board member. “For instance, if someone is on a strict keto diet, going out to an Italian restaurant with friends might pose some difficulties as to what to order,” he says. “Additionally, if someone particularly enjoys a hearty pasta or pizza, it can be difficult to be forced to give that up for good.”

Many of these potential challenges can be mitigated through dedication and personalized help from a health care professional, but they’re worth knowing before starting your weight loss journey.

Is a Weight Loss Program Right for You?

Given the positives and negatives associated with commercial weight loss programs, it may be tough to decide if they offer the best weight loss method for you. Our board members suggest that understanding your personal level of discipline is essential to answering that question.

“The people who do well on programs like these can maintain strict discipline about the types of foods they eat and tend to prepare most of their food at home, so they have a complete understanding of what they are eating,” explains Dr. Raval. “People who should consider other avenues [are] those who eat out a lot, do not want to give up specific foods [or] are looking for more flexibility in their diet,” he says.

Our experts also agree that those with a history of eating disorders or specialized medical conditions are best served by working with a health care professional, such as a registered dietitian. If a certain level of discipline is not desired or possible, commercial weight loss programs may not be an ideal fit.

Davis, Werner and Dr. Raval suggest considering these four factors to help you find the best weight loss program for your personal needs.

• Method and sustainability: Consider which program meshes with your lifestyle. Do you want predefined meals or do you prefer flexibility?
• Long-term appeal: Alongside the basic dietary arrangement, it’s important to consider a method you can sustain over a long period of time. Proper weight loss is rarely a fast process, so choose something you could feasibly support long-term.
• The goal of your weight loss: If you’re just looking to lose weight, sustainability should be a top factor. However, if you’d like to change body composition, like decreasing body fat or maintaining muscle mass, diets such as keto or paleo that work well when paired with strength training, may be best.
• Professional help: Your weight loss journey should always be monitored by a health care professional such as a registered dietitian. This can be a professional you choose or one provided by the weight loss program. Regardless, a personalized plan can be an effective option.

Medicare generally does not cover weight loss programs, medications or surgeries. If your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or more, Medicare will, however, cover obesity screenings and behavioral counseling.

Does Private Insurance Cover Weight Loss Programs?

WeightWatchers, Noom and Found all have potential avenues for health insurance coverage, but individual providers may not cover certain programs. Reach out to each service to see if your health insurance is accepted.

A commercial weight loss program can cost anywhere from $20 to $99 per month based on the style of program you choose. Point- and tracking-based programs tend to be a bit more affordable, while programs supported by medication or premade meals might be more costly. Especially if you’re seeking medication, working through insurance may be the less expensive choice.

How to Save Money on Weight Loss Programs

Many weight loss methods can be cost prohibitive for some. Here are a few ways to save money.

• Private insurance: While Medicare coverage of weight loss programs remains limited, private insurers might cover your chosen program. Consultant your insurer, and a representative of the program, to confirm coverage.
• Free trials and coupons: This path is also limited, but some weight loss programs, such as WeightWatchers, offer free trials or promotions for new members. You may also find coupons for weight loss programs on popular coupon websites as well. Promotions are often most plentiful at the start of a new calendar year, a time when many people consider establishing new weight loss goals.
• Economical food choices: If you’re on a meal plan, take a look at what some of the portioned meals offered and create your own versions with help from a professional. From there, you can leverage low-cost options like buying frequently used items in bulk or purchasing canned foods. Especially if a professional provides guidance, there’s plenty of potential to improvise with low-cost alternatives.