BROWSE DIETS

OPTIFAST Diet

Purpose of the OPTIFAST Program

OPTIFAST® therapy is a comprehensive approach to treating obesity, and is available at hundreds of hospitals and clinics in the U.S.A. and Canada.

More recently the program has been sold around the world (including New Zealand and Australia) via pharmacies.

The program, produced by Novartis Medical Nutrition Corporation, is designed for obese people - those overweight by 50 pounds or more (about 22Kg), or having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. Overweight individuals (those with a BMI of 25 to 30) who experience medical problems caused by their weight may also benefit from the program.

Check your BMI to see if you fit the criteria.

The Optifast Program

The OPTIFAST® program utilizes the expertise of physicians, registered dietitians, and trained counselors with a high quality, calorie controlled liquid nutritional formula. OPTIFAST uses a Weight Management Learning System curriculum to accomplish individual weight management goals. The OPTIFAST program was the first of its kind when developed in 1974, and now has long-term experience and documented success, with more than a million people treated to date. It is based on well-researched treatment approaches, and provides lifestyle education, personalized support, and portion controlled formulas to develop and maintain a healthy new weight and lifestyle.

The program comprises:

The program is commonly offered as a 26-week plan, including 12 weeks or more of complete meal replacement, up to 6 weeks of transition to solid food, concluding with a regular diet to be maintained thereafter, and features up to 20 weeks of nutrition and behavioral counseling.

OPTIFAST requires close medical supervision during the first 18 weeks, so it includes weekly medical visits and group counseling.

Conclusion

Many participants in the program and its variations testify to its success, although it appears to require a great deal of tenacity to ’stick with it’, and by some accounts can produce some uncomfortable side-effects, possibly due to the nature of the liquid diet regimen. However, even a morbidly obese person unable to exercise, can still lose weight because of the low calorie intake in the prescribed liquid ’shakes’.

Based on published surveys of participants and on anecdotal evidence, one may conclude that a proportion of those who enter the program do not complete it, and that not all who achieve their initial weight-loss objective succeed in maintaining it subsequent to the program’s completion.

See Also

OPTIFAST website - Check out the official source and content of the program.

User Reviews

  • Doug
    June 15th, 2009

    Any Canadians currently on an Optifast program?? I’m in week two… and find social situations the worst. Prefer to avoid dinners out, rather than sit and watch others eat! Cravings crop up from time to time but so far can be over come…

  • How I Lost Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days
    April 28th, 2009

    Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!

  • erica
    April 11th, 2009

    the one thing that helped me get started on this diet was to make a list of things that are 100 calories or less. like, tuna, raw veggies for salad, chicken, cabbage, peanut butter and celery, crab meat, v8 juice to make soup etc. I counted my calories to eat less than 900 a day eating no bread. it helped me prepare for the optifast. I had to go on optifast for the lap band surgery april 16th… Next week. I have four more days to go and it was not easy. the only problem I had was a burning sensation in my tummy until I got use to such low calories. the 3rd day I had a tsp on tuna to take away that feeling, day 6 that burning came back and I had a tsp of peanut butter. other than that I haven’t had any solid foods. i like the shakes they arent bad. I would put the shake in a bowl and freeze and eat it like ice cream at night. what a neat snack. I thought the tomato soup would be a nice change from the shakes at night but I thought the soup was NASTY. so I am only taking in 4 shakes instead of 5, which is less than 800 calories. the crystal light with zero calories helps that hunger pang. exercising does help any temptations, keeping your hands busy like reading writing,or crocheting also helps.

  • Lisa Marie
    March 4th, 2009

    I did Optifast in 2004. I lost about 30lbs very quickly and I kept it off for quite a few years. I did it through Kaiser in California. There really aren’t any side effects. I would love to do it again but I can’t find where to go or to buy the product.

  • Cheryl
    February 2nd, 2009

    I’ve been doing Optifast for a week in preparation for gastric bypass next week. The hard part is the evenings. I’m thinking about snacking on celery. It’s just water right?

  • Linda Libby
    January 12th, 2009

    Does tea without sugar count towards the water intake quantity?

  • Lisa
    January 11th, 2009

    This the start of week 2 for me, i find it hard when my family are eating all the things i love, I also find it hard when making the families lunch for the next working day. I have managed to hold my own so far. I am a little concerned about my eyesight right now, looking at what the side effects are anyone know? We don’t get counseling over here when we start this programme

  • Roger
    November 17th, 2008

    I did this plan 10 years ago and lost 131 lbs. … Started Optifast again 4 weeks ago and have lost 20+ pounds… :) I do a modified version of the diet mixing a once daily garden salad with chicken or tuna fish along with the Optifast… I don’t care what diet you do the solution is real easy … No Carbs, No Sugar, No Salt and you will lose weight… I enjoy the counseling and the weekly weigh-in it motivates me… good luck! it isn’t easy..

  • Phreddie
    November 14th, 2008

    does the weight stay off? or do you gain it all back when you switch back to solid food?

  • Jen
    November 7th, 2008

    Hubby and I lost 185lbs combined… the trick - listen and remember your counseling sessions. What motivates each of us is different.

  • Carla
    November 5th, 2008

    I’ve been on the diet for 5 weeks now. I love it!! The 1st week was rough but if you really want something bad enough you will do what it takes. I’m down 25lbs and have 25lbs to go. You have to find what triggers your eating behavior and avoid those situations at all cost to stay successful. When i’m being faced with a temptation I go for a walk to help with the stress of it. If anyone wants more information or needs some support please feel free to email me at cjpreasha@comcast.net

  • Kirsty
    September 26th, 2008

    been on this diet one week today thought i was going to either die or kill someone the first 3 days.. so moody! then had a bout of diarohea one all that passed have been ok deffinatly need a variety of all the products though to be able to stick to it good results so far lost 10kg

  • diane
    August 26th, 2008

    I’m trying for a 3rd time now to get through week 1 - very hard when everyone else is eating “real food”. Does it get easier?

  • Me
    August 12th, 2008

    On my second day of the powder, having lots of abdominal discomfort and watery diarrhea…argh!

  • debe
    July 19th, 2008

    I did this diet a long time ago and i would go out to dinner with my family and order a glass a water and bring my powder mix with me and that is all i had. I did drop 25lbs rather quickly but gained about 50lbs back after i couldn’t afford the counseling anymore!

  • Julie
    July 2nd, 2008

    How do you manage going/eating out while on Optifast?

  • jim
    June 11th, 2008

    i did liquid diet, in 33 days i lost 14 kilos 30 pounds taking fruit,veggie juices and grain milk

  • sheila
    May 8th, 2008

    i find it hard since there is no specific diet plan in its meal. can you provide one?

  • eleca
    April 8th, 2008

    the shakes are very nasty but the resultsa re amazin i lost 15 pounds in one week !!!!!!!!!!!!1








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    Last modified: April 1, 2008