You’ve decided to make changes in your life to improve your overall health and well-being. You know it’s important to choose one of the best diet plans in Pennsylvania, but you’re not sure which one is for you. That’s where this guide comes in. We compare the top five best diet plans to help you choose the right one to fit into your busy life.
We believe Nutrisystem is the best diet plan for 2023. If you don’t feel Nutrisystem is the best choice for you, a close second option is Noom. However, you can’t go wrong with any of the five choices on this list.
The Five Best Diet Plans in Pennsylvania of 2023: Compare Reviews and Rankings
- Nutrisystem: Best Overall Diet Plan in Pennsylvania
- Noom: Best Weight Loss App in Pennsylvania
- Weight Watchers Reimagined: Most Customizable Pa Diet Plan
- Diet-to-Go: Best Diet Plan for Pa Heart Health
- South Beach Diet: Best DIY Diet Plan in Pennsylvania
1. Nutrisystem — Best Overall Diet Plan in Pennsylvania
Pros of the Nutrisystem Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Pre-cooked meals delivered to your door
- Multiple plans available
- Free mobile app for tracking progress
- Long-term benefits
- One-on-one coaching access
Cons of the Nutrisystem Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Consumers upset by poor customer service
- Customers disapprove of food that tastes bad
- People complain that food is too salty
- Can be expensive
Nutrisystem has been in business for nearly 50 years, and has helped millions of people lose weight. There are multiple dietary plans available, all of which deliver pre-cooked meals right to your door. Nutrisystem offers long-term health benefits with its meal plans. There’s a free mobile app to help you track your weight loss progress. You also get access to one-on-one coaching to help you along the way.
Unfortunately, many consumers have been upset by poor customer service, especially when they try to cancel their service. Many customers have complained that the food tastes bad, and others say the food is far too salty. The meal plans may be more expensive than competitors’.
Nutrisystem Costs in Pennsylvania: 4/5
Nutrisystem has a wide variety of plans, which cost between $9.99 and $14.64 per day, most of which deliver food for five days each week. That’s $49.95 to $73.20 per week, or around $209.79 to $307.44 per month.
The meal plans that deliver food for seven days each week cost $15.71 per day, which works out to $109.97 per week, or $471.30 per month. You can order multiple deliveries at a time and save 50% or more.
Nutrisystem also encourages you to add groceries to supplement its meals, adding to the cost. These groceries include produce, lean proteins, low-fat dairy foods, and whole grains.
Ease of Sticking with the Pa Nutrisystem Diet Plan: 4/5
For the five days a week that you receive meals and snacks, it’s easy to follow Nutrisystem’s plan. Your food is already prepared for you, so you don’t have to think about meal planning or grocery shopping. All you have to do is heat and eat.
For the other two days, though, you may run into trouble sticking to a low-calorie diet without the ease of pre-cooked meals. That may make the seven-day-a-week plan more attractive, even though it’s a little more expensive than the five-day-a-week option.
Variety of Meals in the Pa Nutrisystem Diet: 5/5
Depending on the meal plan you choose, you have access to over 150 meal options, including meals inspired by dishes from your favorite restaurants.
Nutrisystem Weight Loss Claims in Pennsylvania: 4/5
Nutrisystem states that women lose an average of 11.6 pounds, and men lose an average of 15.5 pounds, during the first month of using its program. Both men and women will lose an average of one to two pounds per week after the first month.
Other Health Benefits of the Pa Nutrisystem Weight Loss Program: 5/5
Nutrisystem offers plans for people who have diabetes. It says that research has shown that when you lose weight, you can decrease your A1C by 1.02%, that losing 7% of your body weight decreases your chances of getting type two diabetes by 58%, and that losing 9% of your body weight improves your blood sugar and reduces insulin levels.
Overall Score of the Nutrisystem Diet Plan in Pennsylvania: 4.9
Check out what Nutrisystem can do for you.
2. Noom — Best Weight Loss App in Pennsylvania
Pros of the Noom Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Thorough questionnaire personalizes your weight loss plan
- Low-cost, one-week trial available
- Uses psychology-based approach to weight loss
- One-on-one and group coaching
- Peer group for added support
Cons of the Noom Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Constant food tracking can be daunting
- No meal plan
- No food deliveries
When you visit the Noom website, you can only get information by going through the 10-minute questionnaire that allows the app to customize a meal plan for you. Noom offers a low-cost, one-week trial, starting at just $0.50 for the week. It uses a psychology-based approach to weight loss. At various points, you’re matched with coaches for both one-on-one and group coaching. You also join a peer group for added support and accountability.
On the downside, it can be overwhelming to enter all your food into the app. Noom doesn’t provide a meal plan or recipes, only a color-coded system with recommendations on what percentage of your food should come from each color. It also doesn’t do food delivery, unlike some competitors.
Noom Costs in Pennsylvania: 5/5
After Noom’s one-week trial, you should expect to pay $59 per month. Discount codes are sometimes available, and they could help you could pay as little as $26, according to one source.
Ease of Sticking With the Pa Noom Diet Plan: 3/5
With no meal plans or food delivery, you’re on your own for figuring out how to fulfill the balance of the red, yellow, and green food categories. Red foods include processed foods, full-fat cheese, and red meat. Yellow foods include legumes, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. Green foods include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Constant food tracking and daily weigh-ins can feel excessive.
Variety of Meals in the Pa Noom Diet: 5/5
There are no food restrictions with Noom, so you can eat whatever you want, as long as you’re maintaining your red, yellow, and green food balance.
Noom Weight Loss Claims in Pennsylvania: 4/5
Noom says its customers lose an average of one to two pounds per week.
Other Health Benefits of the Pa Noom Weight Loss Program:
Since it takes a psychological approach to weight loss, Noom has many psychological benefits. It can help you reduce your level of stress, decrease your feelings of anxiety, alleviate your depression, improve your self-worth, increase your self-confidence, and raise your self-esteem.
Overall Score of the Noom Diet Plan in Pennsylvania: 4.8
Start your weight loss journey with Noom!
3. Weight Watchers Reimagined — Most Customizable Pa Diet Plan
Pros of the Weight Watchers Reimagined Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Completely customized, individual plans
- Use points to track food intake
- Wide variety of zero-point foods
- 24/7 coaching available
- Virtual and in-person support groups help you
Cons of the Weight Watchers Reimagined Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- No food delivery
- Constant point tracking can be a lot of work
- Low points don’t necessarily mean high nutrition
Weight Watchers, now known as WW after a recent rebranding, offers completely customized, individual plans. It uses a point system to track your food intake, and provides you with a long list of zero-point foods that you don’t have to track at all. Coaching is available 24/7 through the app if you have questions or concerns. There are in-person and virtual support groups to help you along on your weight-loss journey.
Unfortunately, WW offers no food delivery, only suggested recipes. Constantly tracking your points can be a lot of work. Foods low in points may not always be high in nutrition.
Weight Watchers Reimagined Costs in Pennsylvania: 5/5
WW offers four different plans, each one building on the one before it. The Digital plan starts at $3.30 per week, which is about $13.20 a month or $158.40 a year. Digital 360 costs $4.23 per week, which works out to about $16.92 a month, or $203.04 a year.
Unlimited Workshops plus Digital starts at $5.96 per week, which comes to around $23.84 a month, or $286.08 a year. 1-on-1 Coaching plus Digital starts at $11.08 per week, which runs about $44.32 a month, or $531.84 a year.
Ease of Sticking With the Pa Weight Watchers Reimagined Diet Plan: 3/5
Sticking to the plan can be troublesome if you’re not used to tracking what you eat; it can easily become overwhelming. There’s no food delivery, so you’re on your own to follow WW’s recipes or figure out meals on your own. Coaches and support groups can help, though.
Variety of Meals in the Pa Weight Watchers Reimagined Diet: 5/5
The sky is the limit when it comes to meal variety. WW insists that no food is off-limits. It’s all about portions and points. For example, you can indulge in a slice of pepperoni pizza for 17 PointsPlus and balance out your points for the rest of the week accordingly. Not all low-point foods are nutritious; examples include sugar-free Jell-o, sugar-free gummy bears, and beef jerky. WW does offer a variety of foods for sale on its website.
Weight Watchers Reimagined Weight Loss Claims in Pennsylvania: 4/5
WW says customers can expect to lose one to two pounds per week.
Other Health Benefits of the Pa Weight Watchers Reimagined Weight Loss Program: 4/5
There is a diabetes-friendly PersonalPoints, designed to help manage blood glucose and insulin levels.
Overall Score of the Weight Watchers Reimagined Diet Plan in Pennsylvania: 4.75
Check out Weight Watchers Reimagined.
4. Diet-to-Go — Best Diet Plan for Pa Heart Health
Pros of the Diet-to-Go Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Healthy meals delivered weekly
- Health coaching with registered dietitian
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options
- Hot and cold meal options
Cons of the Diet-to-Go Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Meals are over packaged
- Meals may become repetitive
- Interface isn’t as user-friendly as competitors’
Diet-to-Go offers healthy, weight-loss-friendly meals delivered to your door weekly. It offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and provides hot and cold meal options. If you want, you can have health coaching with a registered dietitian.
On the downside, the meals come with an unnecessary amount of packaging. The menu isn’t as expansive as some competitors’, so your meals may become repetitive. The site’s interface isn’t as user-friendly as some of its competitors’.
Diet-to-Go Costs in Pennsylvania: 3/5
Diet-to-Go’s weekly meal delivery service starts at $130.99 per week, or about $523.96 per month, for five days of two meals delivered; breakfast is not included in that plan. If you opt for seven days of three meals, the cost is $192.99 per week, or about $771.96 per month. Those prices are the same for the Balance, Balance-Diabetes, and Vegetarian meal plans.
The Keto-Carb30 menu is $147.99 for two meals, five days a week, or $591.96 per month, and $219.59 for three meals, seven days a week, or $878.36 per month. Weekly shipping costs $19.98.
Ease of Sticking With the Pa Diet-to-Go Diet Plan: 4/5
The more meals you have delivered, the easier it is to stick with the plan. Simply heat and eat your meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Variety of Meals in the Pa Diet-to-Go Diet: 4/5
There’s a five-week meal rotation system. Whichever week is being served, those are the meals you’ll receive. This may not be enough variety for you.
Diet-to-Go Weight Loss Claims in Pennsylvania: 3/5
Diet-to-Go simply states that weight loss may vary, and results are not guaranteed.
Other Health Benefits of the Pa Diet-to-Go Weight Loss Program: 5/5
Balance, Balance-Diabetes, and Vegetarian meal plans are all heart-healthy, with low sodium, carbs, fat, and cholesterol. Balance-Diabetes is designed to help you control your blood sugar naturally.
Overall Score of the Diet-to-Go Diet Plan in Pennsylvania: 4.6
Compare Diet-to-Go to the competition.
5. South Beach Diet — Best DIY Diet Plan in Pennsylvania
Pros of the South Beach Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- Rapid weight loss to start
- Designed by a cardiologist for heart health
- May help with certain health conditions
Cons of the South Beach Diet Plan in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More:
- No website, only a blog
- Too much carb restriction can cause problems
- Can cause issues with kidneys
- Could result in sharp drop in blood sugar
The South Beach Diet was designed by a cardiologist to help his patients with heart health. It promises rapid weight loss during the first two weeks, followed by steady weight loss thereafter. In addition to heart health, the diet may help with other health conditions.
However, there are some downsides. According to one source, the website is “taking a break,” leaving only its blog in place. Too much restriction of carbs can put your body in a state of ketosis, which could become dangerous. Too much meat can cause kidney problems. Following the diet could result in a drastic drop in your blood sugar.
South Beach Diet Costs in Pennsylvania: 5/5
You can use the information on The Palm — the South Beach Diet’s blog — to DIY the diet. You wouldn’t even have to buy the book. However, if you wanted a copy, you could find one for $4 to $26, depending on whether you wanted hardback or paperback, and if you wanted a new or used copy.
Ease of Sticking With the Pa South Beach Diet Plan: 4/5
The initial two weeks are the hardest, since that’s the most restrictive part of the diet, designed to kickstart your weight loss. There are scores of recipes on The Palm, and elsewhere online, to help you find meals you’ll enjoy.
Variety of Meals in the Pa South Beach Diet: 5/5
Since you’re on your own, the possibilities for meals are endless. Simply follow the guidelines on how many grams of carbs, proteins, and fats you’re permitted, and you can create or recreate recipes to your heart’s content.
South Beach Diet Weight Loss Claims in Pennsylvania: 5/5
The South Beach Diet creator claims that you can expect to lose eight to 13 pounds during phase one of the diet, which lasts two weeks. Once you enter phase two, one to two pounds of weight loss per week is typical.
Other Health Benefits of the Pa South Beach Diet Weight Loss Program: 4/5
This heart-healthy diet can also help lower your bad cholesterol — LDL — since it isn’t high in saturated fats. It also helps reduce blood sugar, both because of the weight loss itself, and because the diet is low in sugar and refined carbs.
Overall Score of the South Beach Diet in Pennsylvania: 4.5
Find out more about the South Beach Diet
How We Ranked the Best Diet Plans in Pennsylvania
We looked at a wide variety of diet plans and ranked them on five key metrics: cost, ease of sticking to the plan, variety of meals, weight loss claims, and other health benefits. Each data point was ranked on a scale of one to five, with one being the lowest score, and five being the highest. We then compared our top five choices against each other and gave them a weighted score.
Frequently-Asked Questions About the Best Diet Plans in Pennsylvania
How Do the Best Diet Plans in Pennsylvania Work?
The best diet plans work on one simple premise: take in fewer calories than you burn. Calories are a measurement of energy in food. If you take in more calories than your body needs, you’re going to gain weight. If you take in fewer calories than your body needs, you’re going to lose weight. A difference of 50 calories per day in either direction can create a weight gain or loss of one pound per year. An average man burns about 1800 calories a day, while an average woman burns about 1500.
Food contains four basic components, called macronutrients: water, fat, carbs, and protein. Telling people to reduce the fat or carbs in their diet will result in weight loss, because doing so limits the food options available to them.
Which Pa Diet Plan Works the Best?
Every diet plan claims that it works the best. Most will tell you to expect to lose one to two pounds per week, which is a safe and healthy amount to lose. It’s difficult for scientists to compare diets to each other because people differ so widely in their genetics, exercise routines, and adherence to their diets, to name just a few factors.
Two studies that were published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 22, 2003 attempted to compare the efficacy of low-fat versus low-carb diets. They found that at the six-month mark, low-carb diets had a slight edge over low-fat diets. However, that difference was gone by the 12-month mark.
How Do the Best Low-Carb and Low-Fat Diets in PennsylvaniaWork?
Your body uses two macronutrients for fuel: fat and carbs. Fat is stored to use later, while carbs are converted to glucose — blood sugar — and used immediately.
Low-fat diets want you to cut the fat from your diet because it has twice the calories of carbs. Eating more carbs fills you up faster, with fewer calories.
Low-carb diets work because when you eat carbs, they fill you up faster for fewer calories. However, there’s a problem with this approach. Carbs are rapidly converted to glucose, which causes an insulin surge. Insulin moves glucose into your muscles for energy. When that happens, especially after eating highly-refined carbs such as white rice, white bread, and pasta, your blood glucose plummets, triggering new hunger signals. You eat more carbs, your blood glucose plummets, and the cycle repeats itself.
Most experts agree that a diet full of healthy fats, protein, and slow-digesting, unrefined carbs is the best way to avoid the metabolic roller coaster of low-carb diets. Unrefined carbs include whole wheat or multi-grain bread, quinoa, and brown rice. Other healthy carbs include non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, celery, tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts; legumes such as lentils, peas, and beans; nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and pecans; and fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, and berries.
Can the Best Healthy Diet Plans in Pa Help Avoid Disease?
The short answer is yes; they can help avoid disease. Here’s the long answer.
In the 1970s, researchers at Harvard started tracking hundreds of thousands of health professionals and what they ate. The health professionals filled out regular reports on what they were eating and what, if any, diseases they were dealing with. After controlling for other influences on disease, such as smoking, they looked for any associations between diet and disease.
The researchers found that making correct dietary choices, including healthy fats, good carbs, and lots of fruits and vegetables, plus a regular exercise regimen, could prevent 82% of heart attacks, 70% of strokes, more than 90% of type two diabetes, and more than 70% of colon cancer. In comparison, the best heart medication can only reduce the number of heart attacks by around 25%.
Is Body Mass Index a Fair Way To Measure Degrees of Overweight in Pa?
BMI is used by health professionals to estimate how overweight or obese their patients are. A BMI of 18.5 to 25 is considered normal. With a BMI of 25 to 30, you’re considered overweight, and above 30, you’re obese. Some doctors consider a BMI over 40 to indicate that you’re morbidly obese.
The BMI gives an accurate picture of body fat, but it has its limitations. It’s only relevant to the average person. BMI isn’t accurate for children, pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, and elite athletes.
How Do I Choose From the Best Diet Plans in Pensylvania for Me?
To choose the best diet plan for you, you should do a lot of homework. Talk with your primary care doctor, and consider consulting with a registered dietitian. Consider the cost of any diet plan you’re considering. Think about how easy it will be to stick with the plan.
Take a look at the variety of meals, especially if it’s a diet plan that sends you food. Compare the typical weight-loss claims; ignore all the success stories websites will show you. Assess the other health benefits of the diet plan, and whether that’s something you need. Then, pick a diet plan to try.
Remember, you don’t have to stay with that diet plan forever if it’s not working for you. You’re allowed to change your mind.
Comparing the Top Five Best Diet Plans in Pennsylvania
- Best for: Best overall
- Cost: $209.79 to $471.30 per month; includes food delivery
- Ease of following plan: The more days you have meals delivered, the easier it is to stick with the diet
- Variety of meals: Over 150 meal options
- Weight-loss claims: For women, an average of 11.6 pounds; for men, an average of 15.5 pounds during the first month; one to two pounds per week thereafter
- Other health benefits: Decreases A1C, reduces risk of type two diabetes, lowers blood glucose and insulin levels
- Best for: Best weight loss app
- Cost: $0.50 for one-week trial; $59 per month thereafter; coupons may reduce price to $26 per month
- Ease of following plan: Demands a balance of “red,” “yellow,” and “green” food options; may be difficult to manage
- Variety of meals: Unlimited, since you choose what to eat
- Weight-loss claims: An average of one to two pounds per week
- Other health benefits: Reduces stress, decreases anxiety, alleviates depression, improves self-worth, increases self-confidence, and raises self-esteem
- Best for: Best for customization
- Cost: $13.20 to $44.32 per month
- Ease of following plan: Can be difficult to track points for everything you eat
- Variety of meals: No foods are off-limits; balance weekly points, and you’re fine
- Weight-loss claims: One to two pounds per week
- Other health benefits: PersonalPoints system for people with diabetes helps manage blood glucose and insulin levels
- Best for: Best for heart health
- Cost: $523.96 to $878.36 per month, plus $19.98 shipping; includes food delivery
- Ease of following plan: The more meals you have delivered, the easier it is to stick with the plan
- Variety of meals:Five-week meal rotation system
- Weight-loss claims: Weight loss varies and results are not guaranteed
- Other health benefits: Balance, Balance-Diabetes, and Vegetarian meal plans are heart-healthy, with low sodium, carbs, fat, and cholesterol; Balance-Diabetes helps control blood sugar
- Best for: Best DIY diet plan
- Cost: Free, if you use the extensive blog for info; $4 to $26 to buy the book
- Ease of following plan: First two weeks are hardest, due to having the most restrictions; easier after that
- Variety of meals: Endless variety, since you prepare all meals
- Weight-loss claims: Eight to 13 pounds during first two weeks; one to two pounds per week thereafter
- Other health benefits: Heart-healthy, lowers bad cholesterol, decreases blood glucose
Final Thoughts About the Best Diet Plans in Pennsylvania
Now that you’ve reviewed the five best diet plans in Pennsylvania in 2023, you’re ready to decide which one is right for you. You can carefully consider cost, ease of sticking with the diet, the variety of meals, the weight-loss claims, and the other health benefits of the diet plans, and evaluate which combination makes the most sense for your lifestyle. We wish you all the best in your weight-loss journey.
