Evaluation of commercial weight‐loss programmes in Greece

The objective was to evaluate the success of commercial weight-loss programmes and define areas that need development in the Greek weight-loss industry. A total of 973 people (217 men and 756 women), all customers of the same slimming company, participated in the study. Subjects were enrolled in a weight-loss programme that lasted for a year. Body weight (BW) and height was measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment. For 470 participants, BW was also measured 1 year after the end of the programme (follow-up). We evaluated alterations in initial and final BW, as well in body mass index (BMI) categorization. Sixty-six women were allowed to start the programme, although underweight and 47.3% of the participants enrolled with a normal BMI. At the end of the treatment, 124 persons were underweight. Most subjects with a BMI >40 at baseline remained at the same BMI category after the implementation of the programme; however, this was a small group (n = 8). Most subjects (67.3%) remained at the same BMI category after treatment. One year after the completion of the programme, all participants presented significantly higher BW compared with that at the end of the programme. Results suggest that economic gaining is the priority for weight-loss companies in Greece. The employed staff in its majority is neither nutritionists, nor dieticians, but employees well-trained on marketing, who are being paid accordingly to their sales. Thus, many customers who are either underweight or of normal BW are enrolled in weight-loss programmes for the company's financial benefit and are sold programmes with the use of appliances of questionable scientific validation.