Optifast is a weight loss program that tries to include a healthy lifestyle, like diet supplements, meal replacements, medical clinics, and more. The plan promises weight loss and a decrease in waist circumference. However, ingredients like sucralose and canola oil haven’t been shown to do have any of those benefits.
Our research team looked into the program’s scientific claims, “patient journeys,” and medical monitoring. Ultimately, our team compared Optifast’s published success stories and weight-loss contests to the customer reviews to see if this is your plan.
What is Optifast?
Optifast is a pioneering, science-based weight management system developed over 40 years ago. As one of the first medically-monitored programs, it has proven effective for significant and sustainable weight reduction. Over 130 peer-reviewed studies validate Optifast’s efficacy.
The program is overseen by Nestle Health Sciences, a global leader in nutrition and health. Nestle has an excellent reputation, holding an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for over 85 years of operations. The BBB gives high marks for Nestle’s responsive customer service, reporting only 10 complaints in the last 3 years and just 2 in the past 12 months.
Optifast works by providing nutritionally complete meal replacements to help individuals safely achieve rapid weight loss.
Participants in the Optifast program receive personalized support from health professionals. This comprehensive support aims to not only facilitate weight reduction but promote lifelong healthy habits.
Usually, the diet is adhered to for a minimum of four weeks, a duration that’s manageable for most people. The weight loss achieved with this regimen is attributed to its very low-calorie diet (VLCD) nature. For those eager to promptly address their weight issues, Optifast presents itself as a reliable VLCD solution.
The core of the Optifast program lies in its meal replacement shakes. Formulated for easy mixing or ready-to-drink convenience, the shakes support weight loss when combined with Optifast soups and bars as meal substitutes…So in summary, Optifast offers a science-backed, medically-guided system for substantial and sustained weight management success. Optifast and its parent company Nestle have a strong track record of customer satisfaction, as evidenced by their high BBB rating.
- International Journal of Obesity – Very-low-calorie diets promote weight loss, but research shows that consuming up to 1200 calories per day is just as effective as 800 calories per day – based on a comparison of a VLCD to a low-calorie diet.
- International Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism – If you’re looking to improve things like blood sugar and cholesterol, rapid weight loss tends to show more favorable results. However, body composition is more improved in people who lose weight more slowly.
- International Journal of Behavioral Medicine – Overall, it appears that, as long as a person is considered healthy enough to adopt a strict diet and is being followed up by a healthcare professional, a very-low-calorie diet is an effective means of weight loss.
What Does Optifast Do?
The Optifast weight management system may help people lose weight in a short period. Different age ranges are available and programs created specifically for people undergoing some weight loss treatments. Dieters on any one of the Optifast programs must consume primarily Optifast products during the diet’s main phase, which may last over six weeks.
The three Optifast phases include:
- Active weight loss
- Transition
- Maintenance
Active Weight Loss
The patient visits the clinic, where the doctor runs tests and prepares a custom program. During the Active Weight Loss Phase, you’ll follow an Optifast full meal replacement diet.
Active 2 – In this phase, you will consume:
- 3 OPTIFAST VLCD products
- 2 cups of low-starch vegetables
- One teaspoon of vegetable oil
- providing less than 800 calories per day
In 1983, research showed that very low-calorie diets – at or below 800 calories, were safe. Still, that weight maintenance is a problem that needs to be addressed after goals are achieved, or as the dieter resumes a higher-calorie diet, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Jump forward to 2017, and research shows the same results. This time published in the European Review of Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, authors shared that “our results show the efficacy of VLCKD with synthetic aminoacidic protein replacement, for the reduction of cardiovascular risk, without the development of sarcopenia and activation of inflammatory and oxidative processes.” In this case, the diet was ketogenic, so carbohydrates were limited, but it reinforces the idea that diets of 800 calories can be completed safely, but how effective are they at long-term weight loss?
The International Journal of Clinical Practice published an article in 2014 that covered a 3-year outcome survey to “determine the effect of a very low-calorie diet (VLCD).” The research found that as long as the dieters followed up with “group-based behavior therapy on weight-loss and long-term weight management,” they were able to maintain weight loss long-term.
There’s even research that a VLCD can work as a treatment for obesity in the aging population, according to the Journal of Gerontology.
This phase lasts about 12 weeks. However, you’ll receive weekly monitoring. An additional benefit is the weekly group meeting.
Transition
The second phase (also known as Active 1 Phase) is the transition phase. It lasts about six weeks and slowly begins adding in regular foods. You’ll continue to attend group sessions.
In this phase, you will consume:
- 1 Optifast VLCD Product
- Two low-calorie meals (approximately 400 calories each)
- At least 2 cups of low-starch vegetables
- Two servings of fruit
- One serving of dairy
- providing 1000-1200 calories per day
Long-Term Weight Management
The Maintenance Level, all Optifast VLCD products, are eliminated, and the focus is on maintaining your weight loss.
The dietary intake consists of:
- Three low-calorie meals (approximately 400 calories each)
- Two serving of fruit
- One serving of dairy
- plus low-starch vegetables
The dieter exercises and practices good eating habits learned throughout the program. Dieters eat regular food, Optifast meal replacement meals, and a benefit is the ongoing support from Optifast.
Optifast Ingredients
Optifast offers several different products. However, the Optifast Method relies on meal replacement shakes more than other pre-packaged foods. Some Optifast ingredients include:
- Milk Protein Concentrate
- Soy Protein Isolate
- Maltodextrin
- Vitamin
- Minerals
Milk Protein Concentrate
There are various milk-based protein powders to use in Optifast shakes, but research says milk protein concentrate may not be the best choice. Based on a 2017 study in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, milk protein concentrate has poor solubility. If not properly dissolved, protein powders can leave a grainy feeling in the mouth.
Soy Protein Isolate
According to the journal Nutrients, “soyfoods have long been recognized as sources of high-quality protein and healthful fat.” Also, soy has been shown to help with mood and skin health, among other more serious medical conditions. Though there has been concern over the safety of isoflavone use for some individuals because of the potential hormone-like effects, authors claim reports of side effects are mostly present in animal studies, “whereas the human research supports the safety and benefits of soyfoods.”
Maltodextrin
“Maltodextrins (MDs) are a class of carbohydrates (CHOs) extracted from a range of botanical sources. They are industrially produced by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis of the starch, followed by purification and spray drying,” says Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. There are two types of maltodextrin – easily digestible and not-so-easily digestible. We don’t have any indication as to which one is used in Optifast shakes.
If maltodextrin is added as a source of fiber or as a prebiotic, which would be a good thing, it could change this product’s dynamic.
Vitamins and Minerals
If you take a morning multi-vitamin, you may be concerned about using a product that’s enriched with even more vitamins and minerals. However, these are added to meal replacement shakes to mimic the vitamins and minerals in whole foods. There’s no way to 100% duplicate what’s missing, so a generic amount is often added.
Optifast Benefits
Some concerns regarding the Optifast programs and products have surfaced from time to time. However, there are some key benefits to using Optifast diet plans, including:
- Weight loss
- Nutritional support
- Easily prepared meals
- Maintenance support for long-term results
Optifast diet plans are only comprehensive diet plans that provide medical support, nutritional counseling, and meals. Other weight management systems may provide medical and nutritional counseling, but they won’t provide the actual food that the dieter needs to eat.
Optifast Results
Optifast Results: What Can You Expect?
Optifast, a program developed by Nestlé Health Science, asserts that participants can experience significant weight loss while improving overall health. The company emphasizes that the program’s success is not solely measured by weight reduction but also by the enhancement of the user’s general wellbeing.
Over a 4-Week Span: According to the manufacturer, individuals on the Optifast program may lose between 2.2 to 4.4 pounds per week. This means that, based on their claims, total weight loss could range from 8.8 to 17.6 pounds over four weeks.
Within the First 2 Weeks: The program is designed for rapid weight loss, with the program claiming an average loss of 3.3 to 5.5 pounds per week. Therefore, individuals might expect to lose approximately 6.6 to 11 pounds during the initial fortnight.
Nutritional Benefits of Optifast Products
The company promises that their products are nutritionally rich, with examples given as:
– OPTIFAST HP® Ready-to-Drink Shake: Contains 200 calories with 26 grams of protein and 12 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
– OPTIFAST Shake Mix Powder Formulas: Claims to provide 100% of the Daily Value for 24 essential vitamins and minerals in five servings.
Long-term Benefits and Sustainability
Optifast’s program is purported to provide tools for sustained health improvements beyond immediate weight loss.
– Education and Support: The company offers education on nutrition and lifestyle changes as part of their program.
– Medical Supervision: the regimen is medically supervised, with regular health professional consultations to ensure participant safety and address concerns.
– Community Building: The program includes group sessions for sharing experiences, intended to support and encourage participants throughout their weight loss journey.
Consistent Product Innovation
The company states that it continually updates and improves its product line to align with current nutritional science and consumer feedback.
The program positions itself as a comprehensive solution for weight loss and long-term health management, combining meal replacement products, education, medical oversight, and community support as per the company’s claims.
Optifast Side Effects
The Optifast diet plans may be more supportive in many ways than other diet plans. By checking in with their physician, psychologist, and dietitian frequently, Optifast dieters are more likely to stay on track and avoid any risks associated with weight loss. However, the risks that may occur whenever a person starts a diet like this include:
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
- Irregular bowel movements
What is the Optifast Diet?
The Optifast Diet is boasted as “the serious solution for weight-loss” and claims to be suitable for adults and teenagers with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. This is a medically supervised program that’s intended to help with weight reduction and overall health. It typically lasts for 26 weeks and may be partnered with a weight-loss surgical procedure. This program involves:
- Meal Replacement Diet
- Medical Supervision
- Lifestyle Education
- Counseling
- Ongoing Personalized Support
Optifast Directions
Since Optifast diet plans aren’t the same for everyone, each person will have different directions that they need to follow. They’ll need to follow the guidelines established by their physicians and dietitians throughout the main dieting phases.
Most dieters consume around five shakes per day and maybe even a few snacks, but the caloric allowance will depend on the user’s weight and health.
What is the Optifast Cost?
A significant investment is required to benefit from Optifast’s comprehensive weight management program. The Optifast approach actively involves medical supervision, counseling services, and solely using Optifast meal replacement products for a set period. All of these elements contribute to both the short and long-term costs.
During the initial clinically supervised phase lasting 4 weeks or more, participants exclusively consume Optifast shakes, soups, bars, and snacks in place of traditional foods. The price of these nutritional substitutes varies but represents the bulk of short-term costs. For example, a box of 7 shakes typically runs $27, while 24 ready-to-drink shakes cost around $110. Soups and bars similarly cost $30 for 7 units.
Additional immediate fees also apply. Clinics charge sign-up costs from $250 for a 12-week program to $500 for 24 weeks. Weekly spending on meal replacements ranges from $82–$102 for a partial plan or $138–$181 for full participation.
However, health insurance may offset some longer-term expenses. All medical visits are billed to insurance but participants still incur deductibles or copays estimated at $1,400–$2,000 for 3 months or $2,800–$4,000 for 6 months.
While not inexpensive, Optifast asserts its integrated comprehensive services and products sustainably support successful weight management — worth the cost for those committed to long-term health goals. Upfront clarity on pricing allows consideration of the financial commitment alongside wellness benefits.
Their customer service team is available Monday – Friday: 8 am to 8 pm, EST.
Email addresses: optifastmarketing@us.nestle.com and info@optifast.com
Phone Number: 1-800-662-2540
Address: Nestlé HealthCare Nutrition Consumer and Product Support 445 State Street Fremont, MI 49412
Does Optifast Work?
Optifast uses a non-traditional approach to weight loss. While great for some, it’s a challenge for others. The Optifast diet restricts calories to a certain degree. While this may cause weight loss, some find it challenging to follow such a very low-calorie diet.
Assuming a person is ready to start the program and finds a clinic nearby, the diet is still very intensive and will require a lot of time off work or school for medical appointments. This may also be a deterrent to success and may cause people to quit halfway through. Some of the ingredients used in Optifast products are also questionable.
They may not prevent the dieter from losing weight, which is the program’s primary purpose. Perhaps the best way to get a better idea of whether Optifast works is to look at some Optifast user reviews.
The Optiwin Study
The OPTIWIN study is a 52-week open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial that assessed the safety and efficacy of the Optifast weight-management program.
In the OPTIWIN study, the Optifast group comprised 135 participants who followed a total meal replacement plan for 16 weeks. The meals were made up of 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein, and 20% fat. Traditional foods were introduced gradually after 16 weeks.
The food-based group comprised 137 participants who followed a reduced energy diet that adhered to the Diabetes Prevention Program guidelines.
Both groups exercised vigorously for 150-180 minutes each week. They also attended behavioral counseling sessions.
The Optifast group lost twice as much weight as the food-based group. The mean weight loss for the Optifast group was -12.4% compared to -6.0% for the food-based group. Optifast participants saw greater reductions in fat mass(30%-64% vs. 12%-42%) and waist circumference(p=0.011 vs. p=0.0011) as well.
The Bottom Line on Optifast
Optifast is one of the few medically-supervised weight loss programs shown to work. Aside from customer reviews, some studies show its effectiveness. Once you dial in your diet, exercise and supplementation, there’s a chance you’ll lose weight.
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