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Medifast |
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Introduction & Overview |
Medifast is a diet program that appears to be based on portion control through pre-packaged foods. The program’s promotional material claims that there is “no calorie counting, no points system, no diet pills, and best of all – no confusion!” The main approach of this program seems to be to curtail the dieter’s overeating through portion control imposed by the manufacturer. There seems to be a focus on relieving the consumer of the burden of dietary decision-making. In fact, the product description claims that “Medifast does all the thinking for you!”
Many available diets seem to use the “pre-packaged portion control” approach to weight loss. This logic seems to assume that self-control can only be achieved by removing the option of overeating. While these measured portions may artificially and temporarily equate to sensible eating habits, many dieters may find that once these restrictions are removed, they will likely still lack the skills and discipline to make wise food choices. We will assess the psychology behind this diet, and will evaluate whether the results achieved under such controlled circumstances are likely to be maintained in “real-world” eating situations. Also, we will discuss whether a program that seems to discourage thinking and decision-making is likely to equip a dieter with the necessary skills for long-term success.
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| Pros |
• Features a diabetic program
• Claims to eliminate dietary “confusion”
• Website includes a few testimonials
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| Cons |
• At time of review, “live person” chat seemed to be only intermittently available
• Pre-prepared portion controls may not encourage user decision-making
• At about $275, product seems overly expensive
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| Concept |
This product claims that it is unique, because it features food products that are “delivered right to your door.” In fact, this does not seem to be particularly unique, but a rather common approach utilized by several popular programs. The product claims to begin with a reduced-calorie, portion-controlled plan. Because the meals and portions are established for the dieter by the program, there is “no calorie counting” and no points system.
Once the ideal weight is achieved, however, the dieter then enters the “transition” and “maintenance” stages, at which time calorie counting does appear to become a factor. According to the Website, “the actual number of calories you need to maintain a stable weight long-term is individual – you may need to experiment with different calorie levels during maintenance in order to find what level is right for you.” It appears, then, that the dieter goes from not counting calories at all, to being responsible for setting their own calorie levels and adhering to them.
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| Website |
The product’s Website includes detailed information about the program’s different plans, and also includes customer testimonials. It also provides online shopping for complete diet plans as well as some individual food products. In addition, at the time of review, the “live chat” feature was said to be “unavailable.” Although the feature later appeared to be restored, this may cause customers to feel alienated by the program.
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| Customer Feedback |
One participant in an online discussion board asked, “Why do most Medifast dieters drop out?” The participant went on to inquire “…are all the dropouts just weak-willed people who don’t want to lose weight?” It may also be worth noting that according to one news article, the former Medifast Chief Officer is said to have posted positive Medifast messages on a chat board under an assumed name. For this reason, pro-Medifast statements online may be somewhat questionable.
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| Conclusion |
While this program is said to spare the dieter the trouble of “thinking” and making decisions, most long-term successful diets actually require these skills. In fact, those individuals who are truly committed to a lifetime of health and fitness might do well to sharpen those skills, rather than relinquishing them to someone else. Many healthy weight loss supplements can be incorporated into any diet, allowing the consumer to practice healthy decision-making while losing weight.
Finally, it seems discouraging that the “live chat” feature does not appear to be consistently available. Consumers may have valid questions or concerns, particularly since they might be overly reliant on this program to make decisions for them. Some quality manufacturers maintain a consistent customer service presence, both online and over the telephone.
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