The commercial weight loss programs have been recently reviewed by ‘Johns Hopkins Health Alerts’, a free service of University health publishing and John Hopkins Medicines. It has recently conducted a research on weight loss and tried to find out whether the commercial weight loss programs actually work.The study released in New York, NY on March 11, 2008 has at present given an analysis of the latest research on weight loss. It has concluded that the person who stays in any commercial weight-loss program for longer period is likely to achieve more in terms of weight loss and eventually it leads to a greater weight loss overall.

It has also suggested few weight lost approaches which could be adopted to achieve better weight loss and physical fitness. It has given stress to a three-pronged approach which includes altering the behavior, changes in the diet and increase in the physical activity.

Firstly, the ultimate key to successful weight management lies in changing attitude towards diet and exercise and these changes could not be short terms however have to be lifelong attitudes. Moreover the desire to lose weight must come from within. A person has to be encouraged enough to alter the habits not for a few weeks or months, but for a lifetime. This could only be achieved if one is really interested in improving health or increasing the self esteem. This requires certain life style changes that lead to weight loss.

The study further stresses upon spending longer time on these weights loss programs as benefits could not be seen for at least before three months. This has been concluded during one-year study of men and women enrolled in the Jenny Craig Platinum program.

A research was conducted among 60,164 people out of whom 73% kept enrolled for the weight loss program however the number dropped to 42% at three months and 22% at six months. At the end of one year, only 7% people remained enrolled for the same program.

It was observed that the people, who stuck to the program for a longer duration, achieved the weight loss to a greater extent as compared to others who enrolled for shorter duration. The men and women could lose 13-16% of their initial body weight. Men and women who dropped out in the first month could only see 1% loss. The men and women who stayed in the program for at least three months lost about 8% of their baseline weight.

Losing weight can improve the health in many ways. Just losing 10% of your current weight can make a difference in increasing the energy level, lowering the current cholesterol levels, reducing aches and pains, improving mobility and breathing. It also helps in improving the sleep and wake up more rested. It also helps in controlling the diabetes and blood sugar level.