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FACT CHECKEDWith obesity still a major issue affecting the population, weight loss remains the most popular goal for trainees. Losing weight should be pretty straightforward, but the industry has muddied the waters with a plethora of information and options.
One of the issues someone needs to decide is what weight loss program they should use for fat loss. There are a ton of options, making it hard to choose. This article will try to help simplify the process and provide what we believe are the best weight loss programs to maximize weight loss.
Prepare to lose some pounds with our exclusive 12-week fat loss training program. Choose between a 4 or 5 day training split and torch that stubborn fat, all while retaining, or even gaining muscle...
We will start by saying we don't like the term "best" when referring to weight loss programs. In reality, we don't like calling anything "the best" in most things within the world of fitness and nutrition.
In fact, labeling programs as "the best" can actually promote the spread of bad advice. For example, there's a guy who does keto, and it works for him. Therefore, he tells all of his friends to do keto because "it's the best." However, keto is one of the most restrictive diets in the world, and many people simply can't adhere to it.
You see, nutrition is highly personal to an individual. There are a ton of variables that can make a diet good for you or not. For example;
Therefore, what makes a diet program best for you will ultimately come down to what one you (can adhere to long-term Link: MOST IMPORTANT PART OF DIET). This assumes the diet consists of healthy foods and meets your nutritional needs.
With that in mind, the best weight loss program for you is the one you can adhere to.
While we don't like the idea of the "best" weight loss programs, we do feel some are better than others. This list will include both traditional diets and full programs.
A high-protein diet isn't necessarily a specific diet but a guideline you can apply to any diet you follow. Specifically, it focuses on increasing the amount of protein you consume daily.
It prioritizes consuming larger portions of protein-rich foods throughout the day to support various health and fitness goals. Here's an overview of this nutritional approach:
The high-protein diet incorporates significant amounts of protein into your meals and snacks. Common protein-rich foods include:
Macro Breakdown:
As we said, protein is the primary macronutrient in a high-protein diet. However, when calculated, the breakdown for protein, fat, and carbohydrates is usually similar for each. While you do have a good bit of variability with fat and carbs, the primary rule is don't go lower than 30% for fat.
A high-protein offers several advantages, including:
For these reasons, high-protein diets have some of the most consistent findings regarding their effectiveness in losing weight and maintaining weight.
While the high-protein diet has many benefits, it's important to consider potential downsides:
Anyone and everyone. Many people often associate protein diets with athletics and bodybuilding. However, in this diet plan, protein plays a different role besides muscle recovery – it helps keep you full and increases calorie expenditure.
Therefore, if curbing appetite and burning more calories seem appealing to you, check it out. And again, you can apply this to any other diet you use.
To get the most out of a high-protein diet, keep these tips in mind:
The 80/20 diet has become more popular over the past few years due to its effectiveness and simplicity. It is a flexible eating approach that emphasizes balance and food quality over strict guidelines.
Unlike other diets that have a list of foods you can or can't eat, there are simply two categories;
The concept is simple: 80% of your food should come from whole, minimally processed foods, while the remaining 20% can come from processed or less nutritious options. That's it.
Research shows that flexible dieting can be very effective for some people.² It's not always better than a more rigid approach, but for some, it can be.
You can apply this to any diet or macro breakdown you like, and essentially, no food is off the limit. This allows for flexibility, making it easier to maintain long-term.
With that said, we still believe you should try to completely cut out some foods or at least minimize them. This includes;
These foods can promote unhealthy habits and cravings. In an ideal world, you could eliminate these cravings and save them for special occasions once in a while.
The primary focus of the 80/20 diet is on the quality of food rather than specific food groups or macronutrient ratios. There are no rigid rules about what to eat or which macronutrients to prioritize. However, to follow the 80/20 principle:
Macro Breakdown:
Remember that the 80/20 diet does not have a macro breakdown. Therefore, we recommend the same breakdown as a high-protein diet.
The 80/20 diet offers several potential advantages:
One of the really cool things about the 80/20 diet is the amount of food you can eat! We're not telling you to not count calories. However, many people who move from a typical Western diet to a whole-food diet get stuffed! They can eat much larger volumes due to the low calories.
While the 80/20 diet can be effective, it has some potential downsides:
The 80/20 diet is most popular among individuals who already have experience with dieting or are familiar with macronutrients and food quality. It's especially appealing to those looking for a flexible, sustainable approach to eating that allows for some indulgence without compromising overall health.
To succeed with the 80/20 diet, keep these tips in mind:
By embracing the flexibility and simplicity of the 80/20 diet, you can strike a balance between health-conscious eating and enjoying life's indulgences.
Weight Watchers (now known as WW) is unique as it's not necessarily a diet but an entire weight loss and wellness program.
Founded in the 1960s by Jean Nidetch, WW started as a support group for women who wanted more than a diet plan. She organized weekly meetings and group accountability sessions to help provide not just support during weight loss but also a social aspect.
In fact, its support system has become the foundation of the entire program and the primary reason we have it on this list.
Unlike many other diets, WW doesn't focus on specific food types or strict calorie counting.
Instead, it uses a point system to help participants manage their food intake. The system assigns points to foods based on nutritional content, allowing users to track their consumption without counting calories or obsessing over macros.
To untrained individuals, more intensive programs like WW could be a benefit as there is so much support.³
As mentioned, WW doesn't necessarily tell you what to eat. Rather, it has created a very effective system for calculating and controlling calories.
There are quite a few resources online, but you'll obviously have the necessary tools to make selecting foods as easy as possible.
Macro Breakdown:
Although WW doesn't require strict attention to macronutrient ratios, it provides a general guideline for balanced nutrition:
Remember what we said above? If you follow WW, we strongly recommend that you stay on the higher end of the protein percent.
While many people have had positive experiences with WW, it does come with some potential downsides:
WW was originally created with women in mind, and it has historically been popular among women seeking general weight loss. However, the program has also gained popularity among men in recent years.
Regardless, WW tends to cater to beginners, but anyone needing the support would do well.
With that said, the typical WW member is looking for a supportive, community-driven approach to losing weight and maintaining healthy habits.
For good reason, the Mediterranean diet remains a perennial favorite in weight loss.
In 2025, it's still regarded as one of the healthiest diets globally, focusing on nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats.⁴
Rather than being a "diet" in the traditional sense, it is more of a lifestyle approach to eating, emphasizing the importance of enjoying meals, eating mindfully, and prioritizing whole foods.
The Mediterranean diet centers around consuming foods typical of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, such as Greece, Italy, and Spain.
The diet focuses on high-quality fats (like olive oil and nuts), lean proteins (especially fish), and plenty of plant-based foods. Red meat is limited, and processed foods are discouraged.
This balanced eating approach is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and heart-healthy fats, promoting weight loss and overall health.
Macro Breakdown:
The Mediterranean Diet provides a pretty good macro breakdown. However, it tends to be a little low on protein, so we would advise you to try and get at least 25% of your calories from protein, if not 30.
One really attractive benefit is that multiple studies are showing that following the Mediterranean Diet can reduce the risk and improve several chronic diseases, including;
Intermittent fasting (IF) has been around for a while. While technically fasting has been around forever, intermittent fasting in its current form has been around for about 15 years or so.
However, it has proven so effective for some people that it continues to be used in large populations.
IF is not a diet but sets times when you can eat. Specifically, it alternates between times of feeding and times of fasting. While this general idea applies to all types of IF, you can do it in multiple ways.
Common intermittent fasting patterns include:
As IF is an eating pattern, there are no specific foods or macro breakdowns you should eat.
However, dieters who use IF are generally healthy-minded individuals and will stick to a
primarily a whole-food diet. In addition, followers generally consume a higher protein content.
Studies have also shown that IF can help improve a variety of health markers and reduce the risk of certain conditions.⁵ These can include:
Noom is a relatively new weight loss program but is completely innovative in how it attacks weight loss. While most programs focus on food (obviously), Noom addresses our minds and psychology's role in weight loss.
In this context, Noom aims to transform the way people think about food and their lifestyle choices. Noom functions as a mobile app that combines a multi-functional approach, including:
We really like this, as Noom acknowledges that there's more to succeeding with weight loss than just knowing what foods to eat. Noom targets the root causes of unhealthy eating behaviors, which are believed to lead to healthier nutritional choices.
Noom is much more than just a list of foods to eat; many are involved. Here's a summary of how Noom operates.
Additional Health Benefits: Studies have shown that Noom's behavioral approach can have several positive impacts on overall health, including:
Due to the novelty of Noom, there hasn't been substantial research. However, there have been some general studies that definitely show the effectiveness of mobile health apps.⁶
Noom is popular among individuals looking for a sustainable and psychological approach to weight loss. It is particularly beneficial for people who:
Prepare to lose some pounds with our exclusive 12-week fat loss training program. Choose between a 4 or 5 day training split and torch that stubborn fat, all while retaining, or even gaining muscle...
We reviewed the top weight loss programs to help you reach your goals. You may have noticed that many programs are similar to guidelines rather than strict "named" diets.
That's because, over the years, we have found that the most long-run dieters learned healthy habits and made the right lifestyle changes in the long run. There's nothing wrong with "named" diets, but generally speaking, people migrate back to healthy eating habits while following simple guidelines over time.
References
At SET FOR SET, we strive to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed for your fitness journey. Our team of experts, including certified trainers, dietitians, and athletes, brings over a decade of industry expertise. Our goal is to be your primary resource for all fitness inquiries, guiding you toward a stronger and healthier life. Sign up to stay up-to-date!
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Garett Reid
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