Resources for People Who Want to Lose Weight

These groups do not promote any specific weight-loss plan. Rather, members following various plans meet for support.

• Overeaters Anonymous: 505-891-2664, www.oa.org/

• TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly): 800-932-TOPS, www.tops.org/

Each of these programs promotes a specific plan for losing weight.

• Diet Center: 800-656-3294, www.dietcenterworldwide.com/

• Jenny Craig: 800-597-JENNY, www.jennycraig.com

• Nutri/System: 877-336-0305, www.nutrisystem.com/

• Weight Watchers: 800-651-6000, www.weightwatchers.com

Health care providers run clinical programs. They generally are very-low-calorie diets meant for people who have a lot of weight to lose.

• Health Management Resources: 800-418-1367, www.yourbetterhealth.com/

• Optifast: 800-662-2540, www.optifast.com

• The Commonsense Guide to Weight Loss for People With Diabetes. By Barbara Caleen Hansen and Shauna S. Roberts. Published by the American Diabetes Association in 1998. Scientifically sound weight-loss information tailored to people with diabetes.

• Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off. By Anne M. Fletcher. Published by Houghton Mifflin in 2003. Weight-loss methods of people who have lost and kept off at least 20 pounds.

• Weighing the Options: Criteria for Evaluating Weight-Management Programs. Edited by Paul R. Thomas. Published by the National Academy Press in 1995. How to find the right weight-loss program for you. Much useful information, but technical and somewhat dated.

• Small Steps, Big Rewards: Walking Your Way to Better Health. Published by the American Diabetes Association in 2003. Advice and tips for walking for health. Comes with a pedometer to count every step you take.

• Weight Control Information Network: www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/win.htm

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Weight Loss and Control: www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm

• Federal Trade Commission Diet, Health & Fitness Consumer Information: www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-health.htm. Brochures on many health topics, including exercise and weight loss.

• Partnership for Healthy Weight Management: www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm. Here you can find out your body-mass index to learn whether you weigh too much.

• American Dietetic Association Nutrition Fact Sheets: www.eatright.org/Public/index_11722.cfm

• Food and Drug Administration Information About Losing Weight and Maintaining a Healthy Weight: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wh-wght.html

• American Diabetes Association “Weight Loss Matters” Brochures: www.diabetes.org/health/weightloss/default.jsp

• Shape Up America!: www.shapeup.org/. Information on becoming more fit and losing weight.

• American College of Sports Medicine: www.acsm.org/health%2Bfitness/brochures.htm. Brochures on exercise equipment and other exercise topics.

• American Running Association: www.americanrunning.org/displayindustrynews.cfm. Articles on many aspects of exercise, not just running.

If you want expert help, start by asking your doctor for a referral. If that does not work out, here are other places to find experts.

• American Dietetic Association: 800-366-1655, www.eatright.org/Public/index_7684.cfm. Referrals to registered dietitians and registered dietetic technicians.

• American Association of Diabetes Educators: 800-338-3633, www.aadenet.org/FindAnEduc/index.html. Referrals to diabetes educators.

• American Council on Exercise: 800-825-3636 x654, www.acefitness.org/profreg/default.aspx. Referrals to personal trainers and other certified fitness professionals.

• American Council on Exercise: www.acefitness.org/clublocator/. Locate a health club.

• Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center: 858-792-7463, www.edreferral.com/. Referrals to treatment centers, eating disorder specialists, telephone and online counseling, workshops, and support groups.

• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: 847-831-3438, www.altrue.net/site/anadweb/. Provides information and referrals to support groups and health care professionals.

• American Society of Bariatric Physicians: 303-770-2526, www.asbp.org/locate.htm. Referrals to doctors with special training in helping people lose weight.

• American Board of Bariatric Medicine: 303-779-0279, www.abbmcertification.org/find_physician.html. Referrals to doctors who have passed exams testing their knowledge of obesity.

• American Society for Bariatric Surgery: 352-331-4900, www.asbs.org/html/member.html. Provides names of doctors who do obesity surgery.