NutriSystem

NutriSystem, Inc. is a publicly traded company which offers a weight-loss program based on the use of prepackaged meals. The company also offers free individual counseling to clients (i.e., those who purchase NutriSystem foods) by telephone and internet, and sells vitamins and dietary supplements as well. The company was founded in 1972 as Nutri/System, Inc., a chain of commercial weight-loss centers, and has offered a number of different approaches to weight loss over the years. Nutri/System, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 1993, and closed all its weight-loss centers and reemerged in 1999 as an entirely online weight-loss and weight-management service. NutriSystem is currently a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ and sells its products online and through the QVC network.

The basis of the NutriSystem program is the use of prepackaged meals purchased from the company. An individual who wishes to join the program places an order through the company Web site or toll-free telephone number, or through the QVC network for a supply of prepackaged meals. Each meal can be selected individually or the dieter can opt for a selection of the most popular meals. Different meal packages are available for men and women, for diabetics, for vegetarians, and for older men and women (the “silver” packages). The sets of prepackaged meals, which include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, are delivered to the dieter's home, along with a meal planner which includes directions on grocery items to add to the meals (primarily fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products). Purchase of NutriSystem foods also allows the dieter free access to unlimited nutritional and weight-loss counseling online or by telephone.

NutriSystem claims that its NutriSystem Nourish program, which is the basis of the prepackaged meals, is based on foods that have a low glycemic index. This means they contain primarily carbohydrates which break down slowly in the body and do not cause spikes in insulin levels, as do foods with a high glycemic index. Scientific evidence for the usefulness of the glycemic index in diet or weight-loss programs is equivocal: some studies have supported their benefits, while others have not. According to the company Web site, the NutriSystem meal plan meets the United States Department of Agriculture 2005 Dietary Guidelines, including the following points: lower-than-recommended amount of sodium; less than 5 percent of calories from trans- and saturated fats; inclusion of lean meats and whole and enriched grains; and inclusion of at least 4.5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day.

The NutriSystem program recommends beginning with a 28-day supply of food; other plans are also available, including a two-week supply and a two-week, weekdays-only supply. Costs vary according to the specific package selected, but in May 2007, the discounted cost on the QVC Web site for a 28-day package was just under $300. A Forbes magazine article in 2005 found NutriSystem to be the second most expensive of 10 popular diet plans at 108.5 percent of the median cost for food in the United States; only Jenny Craig was more expensive, while programs such as Slim-Fast and the Zone Diet cost considerably less.

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