Weight Loss on the Web

Can Internet Diets Work for You?

By Lisa Marie Metzler

Have you ever thought of losing weight online? After all, you can buy groceries, books and toys online. You can even learn to stop smoking online. So why not try to lose a few extra pounds using the Internet?

"I think there is a definite place for weight management on the Internet," says Dr. Jackie Odom of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. For busy women whose time doesn't afford a weekly meeting, online weight loss programs may be a good alternative.

Dr. Odom says online diets can be especially good for women who are very uncomfortable and self-conscious about their weight. "They may withdraw and isolate from others," says Dr. Odom. "By using the Internet they can connect or reconnect, which provides support."

How will you know which program to choose? "The most successful Internet diet plans will be those that allow for some flexibility in meals, some way of charting progress, operate on medically and nutritionally sound principles, offer social support and some way of helping people learn from each other's experiences," says Dr. Rachna Jain from Columbia, Md.

Dr. Rachna also advises programs should be easy to use and provide opportunities to "check in" with the program's staff and connect with other dieters through use of chat rooms or message boards.

Dr. Odom's "red flags" are: a program which promotes a quick fix, diets that are too restrictive or nutritionally unbalanced, programs that don't deal with lifestyle change and diets that do not provide professional guidance.

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