The Average Cost of Weight Loss Programs and Procedures

From nutritionists and exercise plans, to special diet plans and supplements, the cost of weight loss programs can take a bite out of your budget. In 2021, the United States weight loss market made a whopping $72.6 billion.¹

Losing weight — and keeping it off — is a lifelong quest for many. Yet the benefits of weight loss, like increased self-confidence, a healthier lifestyle and a lower risk of obesity-related medical issues, can make it a worthwhile investment in your overall well-being.

Learn more below about some popular weight loss programs and methods, along with their average costs.

What Are Weight Loss Programs?

Weight loss programs are intended to help a person lose weight through the use of tools, such as specific plans or food, portion control guidance and support.

Healthy weight loss, even just 5-10 percent of your body weight, can reduce the risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.²

Maintaining a healthy weight also has numerous other benefits for a person's quality of life, such as increased energy, improved mobility, pain relief, better sexual function and libido, to name a few.³

There's no shortage of options for people looking to lose weight. Let's look at the different types of weight loss programs, how they work and what you can expect to pay for each.

Subscription and pay-as-you-go weight loss program cost

This type of weight loss program can help you make healthy lifestyle changes by providing guidance on nutrition that can help you with your short- and long-term weight goals.

For instance, weight loss plans that utilize prepackaged foods can help you better understand portion sizes and balanced eating. This knowledge helps you when you eat out, or as you plan and prepare your own meals down the road. Most plans also offer recipes, advice and support related to exercise, and tools to help you stay on track, like personalized coaching, calorie tracking and fitness tracking.

Some popular subscription weight loss programs include:

Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem is a popular weight loss program that delivers balanced, portion and calorie-controlled meals and snacks to your door. They also offer tools such as online counseling, recipes, meal and fitness tips and tracking, and access to their online community.⁴

The cost of Nutrisystem ranges from $9.99 for their basic plans up to $14.64 per day for a specialty plan. They offer basic plans for men or women that include five pantry-ready breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks per week. Specialty plans include more food options, such as frozen or grab-and-go meals. They also offer a vegetarian and diabetes plan. Nutrisystem often runs promotions that allow you to save on the cost of the plan or get free shipping when you pay for 2 or more months of food upfront.⁵

Jenny Craig

Like with Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig provides prepackaged meals, activity plans, and online or in-person one-on-one coaching. It utilizes the science of intermittent fasting.⁶

Jenny Craig costs $14.47 to $22.78 per day, plus delivery, depending on the plan you choose. The “Simple Plan," which is their cheapest plan, includes two weeks of breakfasts and lunches, followed by the “Essentials Plan" for $22.78, which also includes 14 dinners. The Max-Up Weight Loss Plan costs $22.68 per day with a 4-week membership. It provides the most bang for your buck with personal coaching, activity plans, 14 breakfasts, lunches and dinners — along with 14 snacks and desserts and 14 Recharge Bars.⁷

WW (formerly Weight Watchers)

WW uses a points system rather than calorie counting to help you manage your food intake. You get a points plan customized for you based on an assessment you fill in. When you sign up, you get access to online tools and have the option of online and in-person coaching.⁸ You can also get meal plan recommendations and exercise tips.

Standard digital plans for WW cost $22.95 per month. Digital plus unlimited virtual and in-person meetings and workshops cost $44.95 per month. Digital plus one-on-one coaching costs $44.95 per month. There's a $20 starter fee tacked onto each program. WW is usually running a promotion, which offers either a reduced or waived starter fee and/or a discounted monthly price for the first 3 or 6 months.⁹

Noom

Noom is a weight loss app that uses coaching to encourage behavior changes that lead to healthier habits, rather than focusing on food restrictions. When you subscribe to the app, you'll receive daily lessons that provide practical knowledge for weight loss, food and exercise tracking tools, and access to SOS support from a coach or online community.¹⁰

A month-to-month Noom plan costs $60 per month. The more months you sign up for and pay for upfront, the less you pay per month. For example, paying upfront for a 12-month subscription to the app costs $199, which works out to $16.50 per month. A Noom subscription provides you with a customized plan that's based on your answers to a questionnaire that you complete when you sign up. You also get various tracking tools, recipes and meal planning, and personal coaching.¹¹

OPTIFAST®

OPTIFAST® is a medically-supervised, low-calorie meal replacement diet that's recommended for people with a BMI over 30, or a BMI under 28 with weight-related medical conditions. It begins with a very restrictive mainly liquid diet — consisting of shakes and soups — before eventually transitioning back to regular foods.¹²

The cost of OPTIFAST® varies by state.¹³ The average cost is around $150 per week.¹⁴ The OPTIFAST® program usually lasts 18 to 26 weeks. During the first 12 weeks, the plan consists of full meal replacements, weekly appointments and weigh-ins with a physician at an OPTIFAST® clinic. This is followed by the Transition Program which involves eating self-prepared meals along with patient education and support. Once you've reached your ideal weight, you can continue with a maintenance program, which has been shown to improve the chances of keeping the weight off.¹⁴

Dietician or nutritionist services

A nutritionist or dietician can work with you on an individual basis to help create a specific diet and meal plan. These professionals can also instruct you about changing the way you eat to help you lose weight, and how to improve your lifestyle with better nutrition habits.

The average cost of a nutritionist or dietician ranges from $70 to $100 per visit, although the initial consultation may be higher.¹⁵ You can enlist the services of one of these professionals on your own, or as part of a comprehensive medical weight loss program.

Medical weight loss programs cost

Medical weight management programs can include a tailored plan based on your health and goals, provided through your doctor or a local weight loss center. A professional will usually monitor you throughout the course of the program, which typically lasts about six to eight months.

These plans often utilize a combination of weight loss therapies, such as calorie and portion control, special foods and supplements, exercise, medication and counseling.¹⁶

The average cost of medical weight loss programs is around $1,000, although medical weight loss program costs can vary based on number of visits, initial consultation, prescription medications, special food, supplements and post-care.¹⁶

When you enroll in a medical weight loss program, you are given a customized weight loss treatment plan that may include diet, exercise, behavior modification and other treatments under the care of a team of health professionals — such as doctors, nurses, dietitians and nutritionists, counselors and others.¹⁷

Weight loss surgery cost

If you have a significant amount of weight to lose and/or have obesity-related co-morbidities, you may qualify for weight loss surgery. The cost of weight loss (bariatric) surgery depends on which procedure you have and other factors, such as the location, the provider's level of experience, whether the procedure is performed at a hospital and how long you need to stay.

Let's look at the average costs for each type:

Gastric sleeve (VSG)

Also called a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), the surgeon removes most of the stomach and closes it with staples, leaving only a small section. This reduces the amount of food that can fit in your stomach so you feel full faster.¹⁸

The average cost for gastric sleeve (VSG) surgery is $9,350, but it can cost as much as $22,500.¹⁹

Gastric bypass

Gastric bypass is a more complex procedure than gastric sleeve surgery (VSG). It involves creating a small pouch in the stomach that's stapled to make it smaller, and changing the connection between the stomach and intestine. This allows less food to fit in your stomach and causes most of the food you eat to bypass your stomach and small intestine so that your body absorbs fewer calories.¹⁸

The average cost of gastric bypass surgery is $12,650, but can cost as much as $40, 000.²⁰

Gastric balloon

A gastric balloon is a small balloon that is guided into your stomach under sedation and filled with saline to approximately the size of a grapefruit. It slows food and helps you feel full so that you eat less and lose weight. It's emptied and removed after six months.²¹

The average cost of a gastric balloon is $4,425, but the cost can range between $2,575 to $7,500.²²

Adjustable gastric band (LAP-BAND®)

In this procedure, a ring with an inflatable band is placed around the top of your stomach to create a smaller pouch. This helps you feel full faster so you eat less food. The band can be adjusted after surgery or removed, if needed. Gastric band is associated with more complications than other types of weight loss surgery and typically results in less weight loss than the other procedures.¹⁸

The average cost of LAP-BAND® surgery is $9,875, but the cost can range significantly, from $1,200 to $18,000.²³

Which Weight Loss Program is the Best?

There are too many variables to say for certain which weight loss program is the best. What works best for one person won't necessarily be the best option for another.

To help you choose the best weight loss program for you, consider the following:

• Your lifestyle
• Your budget
• Any medical/dietary needs or restrictions

As you compare your options, consider the quality of the products, customer service, online access and how realistic the program is for helping you meet your weight loss goals.

Insurance for Weight Loss Programs

Many health insurance companies offer incentives for improving or maintaining healthy lifestyles. In some cases, this can include covering a portion of weight loss program enrollment fees or services provided by weight loss plans.

Many health insurance companies now also cover the cost of weight loss surgery if you have obesity, which is classified as having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 and a weight-related condition, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea.²⁴

Check with your insurance company for more specific details.

How Weight Loss Can Help You Save Money

Committing to a weight loss plan can boost your physical and mental health while improving your quality of life. Losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy weight may also help reduce your risk of developing preventable health issues and result in fewer future medical bills and medications, ultimately saving you money in the long run.

How to Pay for Weight Loss Programs

If the weight loss program you want to join isn't covered by insurance, you may have other options.

Many weight loss programs can be paid monthly and offer savings if you're able to pay for a few months up front. Many offer promotions that can help you save on sign up, monthly fees or delivery, making it easier to afford.

You may also be able to use funds in a flexible savings account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to pay expenses related to weight loss.

CareCredit Financing for Weight Loss Programs

The CareCredit credit card is another option that can make it easy to pay for expenses related to weight loss, including consultations, nutritionist visits, exercise equipment, and health and wellness products and services at enrolled locations nationwide.^* Use the Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a healthcare provider or retailer near you that accepts CareCredit.

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. She's written extensively on physical and mental health conditions and treatments, as well as fitness, beauty, and relationships. She's best known for her empathetic and informative pieces for Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today, and more.