Will shedding pounds cost you pounds? What effect could weight-loss have on your wallet? Laura Starkey surveys five famous slimming schemes to find out.
Turn on the TV, and you'll be confronted by diet doctors and exercise gurus trying to terrify you with tales of the nation's `fat' future.
In magazines and newspapers, there are endless stories about celebrity diets and the UK's `obesity epidemic'.
Weight is a national obsession -- and our desire to lose it has spawned an industry worth millions.
But does shedding pounds have to cost you pounds? And if so, what effect will weight-loss have on your wallet?
In the club
It's safe to say most of us know that eating less, choosing healthier foods and exercising will help us lose weight. Acting upon this advice sounds simple -- and it's free.
But in practice, finding the motivation to change your lifestyle can be difficult.
It's for this reason that thousands of people join slimming clubs every year. According to a recent Fool.co.uk survey, 50% of people have paid to join a weight-loss scheme.
On behalf of any other Fools who'd like to lose weight -- and with a desire to shed a few pounds myself -- I decided to get the lowdown on five weight-loss programmes.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers currently offers members two `plans' to choose from.
On the points plan, no food is forbidden -- but you must check the points values of the things you eat and drink to ensure you don't exceed your daily limit.
On the core plan, you eat only wholesome foods and there is no counting.
Members of Weight Watchers can attend meetings, or opt to plan and track their weight loss through the website. A combined approach is possible, though this will cost more.
They say: "Our meetings members agree that it works: 97% of them say they would recommend us to a friend."
Users say: At online review site ReviewCentre.com, Weight Watchers slimming clubs have an average rating of 7.7/10.
The costs:
| Cost on first night | Three months' membership | Six months' membership |
|---|---|---|---|
Traditional plan (weekly meetings) | £14.50 | £80.49 | £151.99 |
Traditional plan with online access | £14.50 | £95.49 (with £15 for three months special offer) | £180.89 |
Online plan | N/A | £49.95 (upfront) | £79.80 |
Slimming World
Slimming World advocates `food optimising' -- which is similar to food combining. The idea is that by not mixing carbohydrate- and protein-rich foods, you'll lose weight more effectively.
Slimmers choose between `red days' (where protein portions are unlimited and carbs are controlled) or `green days' (vice versa). Every day, slimmers can also use 5-15 `syns' -- which allows them to have a few treats.
Members of Slimming World can either attend meetings and use the free Lifeline Online resource, or lose weight through its online plan, bodyOPTIMISE.
They say: "At Slimming World we want you to be happy with your weight -- not just now, but for life."
Users say: At ReviewCentre.com, Slimming World has an average rating of 8.5/10.
The costs:
| Cost on first night | Three months' membership | Six months' membership |
|---|---|---|---|
Traditional plan | £9.50 | £63.49 | £121.99 |
Online plan | N/A | £60 (upfront) | £120 |
Rosemary Conley Diet And Fitness Clubs
Rosemary Conley Diet And Fitness Clubs encourage slimmers to eat low GI (glycaemic index) foods and ensure they are aware of portion sizes.
At the end of every week's meeting, there is an optional exercise class.
Slimmers can choose to follow the plan online, instead of through meetings.
They say: "The Rosemary Conley approach is unique. We are the only national slimming organisation to include an exercise session in every class."
Users say: At ReviewCentre.com, Rosemary Conley clubs have an average rating of 9.7/10.
The costs:
Cost on first night | Three months' membership | Six months' membership | |
|---|---|---|---|
Traditional plan | £16.20* | £94.58 | £171.16 |
Online plan | N/A | £49.99 (upfront) | £79.99** |
*The cost of Rosemary Conley classes may vary by region. My local class costs £6.20 per week.
**The cost of six months' membership is £79.96 -- but for an additional 3p, users can buy a year's membership of the website for £79.99.
Slim.Fast
Slim.Fast users choose from two different plans -- Slim.Fast Everyday and Slim.Fast My Way. They get free online support while they diet.
On the Everyday plan, slimmers have two Slim.Fast meals or meal replacements, and can have up to three Slim.Fast snacks per day. On the My Way plan, slimmers decide for themselves what they eat.
They say: "The Slim.Fast Plan is a structured weight loss programme that's easy to follow and proven in independent clinical trials to really work!"
Users say: At ReviewCentre.com, Slim Fast diets have an average rating of 7.3/10.
The costs:
An individual who had two milkshakes, a snack bar, a smoothie and a `hunger shot' per day would spend around £5.35 on Slim.Fast products.
Over three months, this could cost £486.85. Over six months, it could cost £973.69.
The Cook Yourself Thin Club
Cook Yourself Thin was a Channel 4 series featuring four chefs. They helped women lose weight through cooking low-calorie versions of traditional, tasty foods.
The Cook Yourself Thin book contains a selection of recipes from the show, and costs £5.99 from Amazon.
The online Cook Yourself Thin Club provides access to additional recipes and weight-loss resources, plus a community forum.
They say: "You too can cook yourself thin with these specially developed tools to help you eat well and lose weight."
Users say: No online reviews are available for the Cook Yourself Thin Club. On Amazon, the book has 26/47 five star reviews, plus 13 four star reviews.
The costs:
£25.50 for three months' membership. £45 for six months' membership.
The verdict
Slim.Fast is by far the most expensive of the five weight-loss programmes I surveyed.
In my opinion, it's also the least sustainable option -- I certainly don't think I could face two meal replacement shakes a day for several months. Perhaps that's lucky, as following the plan for that long could set me back a staggering £973!
Comparatively, Weight Watchers, Slimming World and Rosemary Conley clubs seem far cheaper.
I think Weight Watchers online looks like particularly good value, at £49.95 for three months. Its website seems sophisticated, and there's a variety of tools on offer.
I also like the Rosemary Conley approach of combining diet and exercise -- anyone who'd usually pay for a weekly exercise class as well as slimming support could save money by joining this club.
The Cook Yourself Thin book is also, in my opinion, well worth buying. I've tried and tested several of the recipes, and can highly recommend the Thai curry and spiced salmon dinners!
If you like the Cook Yourself Thin philosophy, the club could also be a good bet -- and it's the cheapest slimming club I surveyed, costing £45 for six months.
It's important to research any weight-loss scheme you're interested in before joining up. Make sure you know exactly what you'll get for your money, and consider whether the club's approach will work for you.
If it all seems too pricey, you could even share details of a club's scheme with a friend and split the cost of joining.
Of the Fools who took part in our survey, 58% said they spent more than £100 on trying to lose weight, with 36% spending more than £200.
However, 78% said they were successful, and did manage to shed their excess pounds -- so it seems investing in weight-loss support can be worth it.
Of course, simply throwing money at weight problems won't solve them. You need to be sure you can commit to any scheme you join, and invest time and effort as well as cold hard cash.
That way you can be sure that, whichever club you go for, it'll help shrink the size of your behind -- not just your bank balance!
If you have any helpful hints that might help Fool users losing weight, why not post them in the comments section below?
More: Slim Your Waistline -- Not Your Wallet | Three Ways To Cut Your Food Bill