The Optavia Diet: What It Is, and Why It’s Popular

Dieters can choose their Optavia plans. The most common plan, the 5&1, gives five “Optavia fuelings” (cookies, shakes, soups, and pastas) plus one “Lean and Green” meal per day. The 4&2&1 is intended for more voracious eaters, offering four fuelings, a snack, and two Lean and Green meals per day. Finally, the 3&3, which is more for maintenance. It comes with three Optavia fuelings as well as three Lean and Green meals.

According to an analysis, the diet promotes weight loss because the portions are limited (calorie restriction). The company also uses low-calorie substitutes for ingredients like sugar and carbohydrates. It then adds extra protein, as well as other nutrients.

“Optavia is designed to induce a calorie deficit for initial weight loss. It appears that most snacks are around 100 calories and meals are less than 500 calories,” Christyna Johnson, MS, RDN, LD, and owner of Encouraging Dietician LLC, tells Woman’s World.

“In total, if the individual consumes five smaller Optavia-apporoved meals in the day, they would consume around 1,100 calories [total]… Less than what is considered appropriate for the vast majority of the population.”

Plus, the diet offers each customer a “coach.” However, coaches aren’t registered dietitians or doctors. They simply intend to provide one-on-one support via email, text or phone call. This is generally considered to be an advantage, as many diet plans don’t come with support.

“The idea that you have a coach at your disposal who is now considered to be the ‘expert’ on your nutritional needs provides the illusion of security,” Johnson adds. “The consumer is ‘no longer responsible’ for having all the answers to their health concerns.”

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Low-carb and calorie-restricted diets like Optavia often result in quick weight loss. A study looking at 65 people struggling with obesity who went on Optavia for 16 weeks found the patients in question had effectively lowered their weight, fat levels, and more at the end of the four months. “Those on the 5&1 Plan lost 5.7% of their body weight, on average, and 28.1% of participants lost more than 10%,” the article reads. “This may suggest additional benefits, as research associates 5–10% weight loss with a reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”

Long-term, it may not be sustainable

Optavia may bring quick results. However, it may not be a sustainable choice for the long run. it’s considered a “quick fix,” according to Stacy Antine, MS, RDN, and owner of HealthBarn USA. This is because it can lead to quick weight loss results. But it comes with disadvantages.

“Any diet that creates this extreme of a calorie deficit will result in rapid weight loss,” she says. “However, this “quick fix” mentality never makes for a sustainable. healthful, lifestyle choice.”

Features and Benefits

• Food is pre-made
• You can pick your plan
• Calorie restriction yields short-term results
• Plans come with coaches and support groups

Dieting is generally more costly than buying groceries that adhere to the average American diet, because it tends to involve healthier food, more fresh produce, and better quality meats. However, Optavia is even more expensive than a simple healthy grocery haul, because it involves all pre-made meals and packaged snacks.

According to a breakdown from US News, Optavia’s cheapest plan (the 5&1) costs nearly $400 per month. So, it’s unsurprising that stars like the Cake Boss are willing to buy in on it. But the average person most likely wouldn’t do it — or at least they wouldn’t stick to it very long, thanks to the price tag.

“It seems expensive for the amount of food you’re getting,” Stacy Antine notes. “[One] can find nutrient dense food, with a more balanced approach to eating, for less money going the conventional route of a balanced diet with lots of whole, unprocessed foods.”

There may be more affordable alternatives that work with Optavia

Because Optavia is an all-in-one diet and meal plan, there are competitors like Wonderslim that make more affordable foods that should be compliant with the diet plan. However, it would be up to you to figure out a one-to-one replacement while you’re on the diet, so those foods might be a better option for helping to maintain your weight once you’ve reached your goal on Optavia.

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Although Optavia isn’t cheap, it makes healthy eating easier: “Diet aside, meal and food delivery services provide layered benefits for many parts of the chain. For the recipient it can mean accessibility if they are disabled, it can mean less meals away from home if they are someone with limited time to grocery shop and meal prep, it can reduce the number of steps involved in the cooking process for those who struggle with executive dysfunction (ADHD, autism, intellectual disability),” Christyna Johnson says.

And ultimately, the program is cheaper than having a private chef or ordering nightly delivery. “It’s a previously untapped job market for the general population, historically meal delivery was considered a luxury afforded by upper middle class and beyond,” Johnson adds. “As it has become more accessible, it has opened a job market that includes the company providing the meals and the delivery persons.”

Pros

• Pre-made food
• Accessible
• Short-term results
• Plans come with support

Cons:

• Not sustainable long-term
• Calorie restriction can take a toll on mental and physical health
• Yields significant amounts of waste
• High cost

Optavia is a combined diet and meal delivery service that intends to help customers with weight loss. Overall, it might not be a dietitian’s first choice, because it’s restrictive nature doesn’t make for a viable longterm solution. It’s also expensive, and shipping small quantities of food is environmentally wasteful. However, deliveries are proven to make eating healthy at home easier and it’s coaches offer the support many need to stick to it.

If Optavia meets your needs, and more importantly, your budget, it may be a good option for you to get weight off, but you should have a plan for sustaining that weight loss afterwards.