Is Medi-Weightloss Right for You? Here's What to Know

When you're looking for a program to help you lose weight, the options can seem overwhelming. Most have glowing testimonials on their websites and promise incredible results. But how do you know which one will work for you?

Here, we'll delve into the details on Medi-Weightloss — including how it works, what the food component looks like and the overall pros and cons — so you can decide whether it might be worth your time.

Medi-Weightloss — not to be confused with the Medifast weight-loss program — was founded in 2005 and operates franchises around the country that offer weight-loss counseling and supplements.

It is a medically supervised program that advocates a low-calorie, high-protein diet to induce weight loss and includes weekly check-ups, supplements and medication.

The program is broken up into three phases, the length of which fluctuate based on the person and how much weight he or she has to lose, according to the Medi-Weightloss website.

‌1. Phase One:‌ This is considered the weight-loss phase, or the Acute phase. In this phase, you have a medical examination by a nurse practitioner or physician. He or she will note your medical history, including any current medications, medical conditions and anything else that could interfere with your weight loss.

You will undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), blood panel and get a body fat percentage analysis. At this point, the practitioner will also take your weight and body mass index (BMI). This will help determine your daily calories.

Your goals will be determined as well as any barriers that could prevent you from reaching your goals. An individual plan will be formulated and decisions will be made with your health care provider on the course of your weight loss — whether it will include injections or other medications.

At this point with Medi-Weightloss, you will have weekly check-ins at the center to monitor your progress. You will also gain access to the members-only website.

‌2. Phase Two:‌ This is called the Short-Term Maintenance phase of the program. At this point, you will be close to or may have already reached your goal weight, and you will start to increase the calories in your diet.

Much of the Acute phase is continued in the Short-Term Maintenance phase, including access to the website and weekly check-ins. You may have your body composition measured again to determine your progress.

‌3. Phase Three:‌ This is called the Wellness phase. At this point, you will move to monthly check-ins. You will receive additional testing and continue with your current program.

The Medi-Weightloss program revolves around a high-protein diet with minimal carbohydrates, with no mention of how much fat you should be eating. The program states that it works to get you into a state of ketosis (in which your body burns fat for fuel instead of sugar), but getting and staying in ketosis is a finely tuned process and it's not for everyone.

High-protein diets are popular for weight loss — the Atkins diet is one example. While these types of diets can help you lose weight in the short term, according to the Mayo Clinic, they can be hard to stick with for a significant amount of time.

Plus, there are risks to following a high-protein diet for an extended period of time, per the Mayo Clinic. If you're restricting carbohydrates too much, you may be at risk for nutritional deficiencies. And if you're relying on high-protein foods that are also high in saturated fat, like red meat or full-fat dairy, then you may put yourself at an increased risk for heart disease.

A high-protein diet is not a good idea for people with kidney disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, because it may worsen kidney function.

In general, you'll be eating foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Here's an example of what you might eat on Medi-Weightloss:

‌Protein Foods‌

• Lean meats: Beef, chicken, fish, turkey
• Cottage Cheese
• Eggs
• Nuts

‌Low-Carb Fruits and Veggies‌

• Greens: Spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard
• Raspberries and blueberries
• Zucchini
• Cauliflower and broccoli
• Celery
• Radishes
• Cucumbers
• Avocado

‌Fats‌

• Olive oil, canola oil, coconut oil

Some foods, such as nuts and dairy, contain all three macronutrients, so if you're actively counting carbs, you'll need to include them.

Like any weight-loss program, there are pros and cons that can help you decide if this program might work for you.

‌Pros‌

‌Support:‌ Weekly check-ins with a healthcare provider is a huge plus of this program. According to June 2016 research published in the ‌Journal of Behavioral Medicine‌, social support seems to be helpful in weight loss and maintenance. Accountability can help you stick with a program, and this might aid in your weight-loss goals.

‌Personalization:‌ Weight loss is never a one-size-fits-all approach. Medi-Weightloss allows you to discuss your medical history and other personal factors with a health care professional before embarking on your weight-loss journey.

‌Cons‌

‌Not food-focused:‌ Instead of focusing on an overall healthy eating pattern, the program hones in on protein and calories. There is no mention of nutrition education or the best healthy eating patterns, which would help people maintain their weight loss in the long run.

‌Not scientifically based:‌ There is no scientific basis to support this specific approach to weight loss. The research conclusions listed on the website do not have actual published studies cited for reference and without those, it is impossible to know if those are factual conclusions.

‌Time commitment and availability:‌ It is advisable, in order to reach your goals, that you attend weekly meetings. This also means that in order to succeed in this program, you must live near one of the 91 centers open in the United States.

‌Cost:‌ There is no cost listed on the Medi-Weightloss website. The cost is variable to each individual. This open-ended type of pricing can be difficult to budget for when choosing a weight loss program. There are also packaged foods you can buy, but they are not mandatory for the program. Keep in mind, though, that high-protein foods can be costly.

‌Physical activity is not part of the program:‌ Medi-Weightloss does not indicate that physical activity is an integral part of weight loss. According to August 2017 research published in ‌Diabetes Spectrum‌, though, exercise enhances weight loss and contributes to keeping it off.

In addition, calorie restriction has been shown to decrease lean body mass (aka muscle) in the absence of exercise. According to a January 2017 study published in ‌Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise‌, people who practiced only calorie restriction lost lean muscle mass. Study participants who only exercised for weight loss, and those who combined a reduced calorie diet with exercise, did not lose lean muscle mass.

Like any weight-loss program, you get out of it what you put into it. This program may have some benefits that appeal to you, such as weekly support and accountability, but the cost, nutrition approach and lack of exercise may not.