Losing weight is not easy, but it can be a whole lot easier when you're enrolled in a good weight loss program. But how do you tell a good weight loss program from those that are less adequate? One way is to look at what each program has to give you. A so-called "good" weight loss program should give you, at a minimum, the following things.

Dietary Guidance

If a program claims to help you lose weight without any sort of dietary change, that program probably doesn't show much promise. To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you burn. There are a number of ways to achieve this with diet, so feel free to find a program with dietary recommendations that seem achievable and realistic for you. Just make sure the program does offer plenty of dietary guidance as this is one of the most important parts of any weight loss journey.

Exercise Recommendations

Can you lose weight without exercise? It is possible through dietary changes, but it's not the healthiest or most efficient option. Good weight loss programs offer some sort of exercise recommendations. They can be loose recommendations, such as "exercise for 30 minutes per day" if that's what works best for you. Or, they can be more specific recommendations, such as prescribing a specific workout each day. The most important thing is that the program calls for some sort of exercise.

Support

One of the most important determining factors as to whether or not someone is successful in losing weight is how much support that person receives on their weight loss journey. People who "go it on their own" are often less successful than those who receive support from others. As such, a good weight loss program should offer some sort of support. This can be peer support from others in the program or support from the program's coordinators or organizers. Sometimes, it can be a bit of both. The support may occur in the form of weekly or monthly in-person meetings, or in the form of online groups. It's up to you to choose a program with the type of support you prefer, but make sure that support exists.

Keep the above elements in mind when searching for a weight loss program. If a program offers dietary recommendations, exercise recommendations, and support, then it is likely a viable program deserving of further consideration.