What Is The Optavia Diet—And How Does It Work? (2024)

The Optavia diet, a popular lifestyle program focused on weight loss and building healthy habits, gained notoriety when TLC’s Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro revealed it was responsible for his 35 pound weight loss in 2018.

But what is the Optavia diet, and how does it promote weight loss? Read on to find out if it’s right for you.

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What Is the Optavia Diet?

Optavia describes itself as a “holistic health and wellness program” aimed at helping people achieve their goals through “healthy habit creation, clinically proven plans and scientifically developed products, all reinforced by coaches who provide individualized support.” The program focuses on six key areas of health: Weight, eating and hydration, motion, sleep, mind and surroundings.

The company currently offers 10 different plans based on your individual needs and preferences, including specialized plans for seniors (ages 65 and up), teen boys, teen girls, nursing mothers, individuals with gout and individuals with diabetes. Optavia notes that its Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan is its most popular offering. This plan consists of six small meals a day, five of which are Optavia Fuelings meals, which are provided by the company and designed for your weight loss program.

How Does the Optavia Diet Work?

Optavia is a branded diet, requiring the purchase of pre-packaged meals or Fuelings, which consist of everything from crunchy snacks, shakes and bars to cereals, soups, pasta and more. Fuelings are designed by physicians, dietitians and scientists for weight loss, according to the company. There are over 50 different options, all of which the company says are portion controlled and nutrient dense, featuring 24 vitamins and minerals, high-quality, complete protein and BC30™ probiotic cultures to support digestive health. Fuelings are made without colors, flavors or sweeteners from artificial sources, according to Optavia. Total daily calorie intake may be around 800 to 1,000 calories per day as a result.

The popular Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan, consists of six small meals per day, to be eaten every two to three hours, with five of those meals being Optavia Fuelings. For the sixth meal, you will learn how to prepare your own “Lean & Green” meal—consisting of 5 to 7 ounces of lean protein, three servings of non-starchy vegetables and up to two servings of healthy fats—designed to stabilize blood sugar.

Optavia recommends avoiding alcohol, sugary drinks, solid shortening and high-calorie desserts while on the diet. There are also a few foods that are limited at the start of the Optavia diet but reintroduced later on, says the company, including starchy veggies (such as corn, peas and potatoes), low-fat dairy products and whole grain products.

Additionally, Optavia offers a robust support element, consisting of coaches. Per Optavia, coaches are “the lifeblood of the program.” The majority of coaches (90%) started as clients of the diet, according to the company, and use their transformation as motivation to lead others through the process. Your coach will check in with you the day before you begin your program, as well as the first four days of the program. From there, you can establish regular check-ins with your coach via your preferred mode of communication, such as by phone or email.

Optavia also trademarked their “Habits of Health Transformational System,” a process which enables clients to learn how to create healthy habits through small, daily changes, often starting with achieving a healthy weight and focusing on healthy eating. In addition to food, it also addresses hydration, exercise, sleep, mindfulness and surroundings—with the goal of healthy habit creation in all areas of life. The “system” consists of Dr. A’s Habits of Health Second Edition and Your LifeBook, as well as access to the Habits of Health app.

Benefits of the Optavia Diet

The Optavia diet may offer the following benefits.

Potential Calorie Deficit

The Optavia diet minimizes caloric intake, and a calorie deficit (meaning you use more calories for energy than you consume) can result in weight loss. However, while low calorie diets are effective in terms of short-term weight loss, studies have found that they aren’t as effective for long-term weight loss[1]Benton D, Young HA. Reducing Calorie Intake May Not Help You Lose Body Weight. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2017;12(5):703–714. .

Support and Coaches May Help with Weight Loss

Optavia provides an additional layer of support via its coaches, and multiple studies have found that support and guidance increase your chances for success in reaching your optimal weight[2]Appel, LJ, et al. Comparative effectiveness of weight-loss interventions in clinical practice. N Engl J Med, 2011. 365(21):1959-68. .

The Optavia Diet May Help With Portion Management

As the diet uses predetermined portions, Optavia plans may help with portion management if you tend to go overboard on calorie-rich foods, says Jackie Newgent, a registered dietitian nutritionist, plant-forward culinary nutritionist and Forbes Health Advisory Board member.

Additionally, “added sugar is discouraged, which can be helpful when you’re trying to focus on eating right,” she says.

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Potential Risks of the Optavia Diet

However, there are potential risks associated with the Optavia diet, some of which include:

Most of the Food Is Processed

Newgent’s biggest concern is the Optavia diet’s processed food. “The overall concept of using packaged bars, snacks or shakes in place of wholesome meals is not a new, clever or health-protective approach,” she says. “Following an eating plan that’s based on highly processed ingredients is absolutely not ideal for optimal health.”

It May Not Be Healthy for Everyone

As with any lifestyle change or weight loss program, individuals should consult with their health care provider prior to starting the diet. The program isn’t recommended for those younger than 13, and not all plans are suitable for teens, pregnant women and people with gout.

Also, older, sedentary adults and people who exercise more than 45 minutes a day should avoid the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan, according to the company, and people with serious illnesses like cancer, liver disease, kidney disease or an eating disorder shouldn’t follow any plan unless their health care provider has cleared them.

Optavia Costly

Like other branded diets, Optavia costs money. “If you’re trying to be budget conscious, Optavia diet plans are not for you,” Newgent says. The Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan costs roughly $428 for 119 servings, averaging to $17 per day, plus any additional spending for the “Lean & Green” meal.

It May Be Triggering For Disordered Eating

Newgent is weary of most branded diets. “Optavia diet plans can be too low in calories, which may keep you on that never-ending, yo-yo diet cycle,” she says. Instead, she encourages focusing on a healthy lifestyle, adding that a healthy eating plan should be based mainly on wholesome foods, “not highly processed, packaged products that you need to order.”

Is the Optavia Diet Right for You?

Optavia may be able to help those who are seeking to improve weight management and wellbeing, whether it be for weight loss or maintenance, better eating and hydration habits or a healthy mind. However, it may not be a sustainable approach to weight loss for everyone.

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What Is The Optavia Diet—And How Does It Work? (2024)

FAQs

How much does Optavia cost per month? ›

The Optimal Weight 5 & 1 ACTIVE Plan Kit.

It contains enough food for nearly 30 days (184 items) and costs $366.45 for your first month and $461.52 per month each following month. It also includes OPTAVIA's ACTIVE Essential Amino Acid Blend.

What is the downside of Optavia? ›

Gallstones, hormone imbalances, fatigue, diminished metabolism, and depression are just a few of the side effects found to be associated with following very low calorie diets. Most Optavia plans fall within the 800-1300 calorie range, which can be less than half of some adults' basal energy needs.

What exactly is the Optavia diet? ›

The Optavia diet is a low calorie, reduced carb program that combines packaged foods, homemade meals, and personalized coaching to encourage weight loss. The program offers several plans to choose from, all of which involve a mixture of packaged Optavia Fuelings and homemade entrees known as Lean and Green meals.

What do doctors say about Optavia? ›

What Experts Say. “The Optavia Diet is a meal replacement plan. Followers eat a certain number of 'fuelings' per day (plus one homemade meal), resulting in calorie reduction and weight loss. Experts worry that it's unsustainable; many will regain weight when transitioning off the meal replacements.”

What are the complaints about Optavia? ›

Low-calorie meals can slow metabolism and cause extreme fatigue. The most common complaints about Optavia on Better Business Bureau include poor customer service and billing issues. Some customers also say they experienced unexpected weight gain after the program or felt bloated and sick while on it.

How did Kelly Clarkson lose weight? ›

She confirmed the rumors during an episode of her talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," while conversing with Whoopi Goldberg, who also has taken a weight loss medication. She also previously shared that being more active by walking around New York City and trying out a high protein diet have helped her lose weight.

What is the lawsuit against Optavia? ›

Suing Optavia for Fraudulent Business Practices

Countless Optavia customers have accused the company of forcing them to auto-renew their membership subscriptions but never informed them that an auto-renewal would happen. Are you an Optavia customer, specifically, an Optavia Premier member?

Who should not do Optavia? ›

The Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is NOT appropriate for teens, sedentary older adults (65 years and older), nursing mothers, people with gout, individuals with Type 1 diabetes, and those who exercise more than 45 minutes per day or participate in high intensity activity – if you fall into one of these categories, please ...

How long does it take to lose 10 lbs on Optavia? ›

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 4 & 2 & 1 Plan® is 10 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Is Optavia a pyramid? ›

Is OPTAVIA Health Coach A Pyramid Scheme? No, OPTAVIA Health Coach is not a pyramid scheme, although it has had some misrepresentation and bad press. BUT, in our opinion, it is MLM… multi-level marketing. In order to maximize your earnings, you must sign up other coaches and become a manager of those coaches.

Can you eat fruit on Optavia? ›

Examples of low-GI fruits include berries, apples, oranges, and grapes. High-GI fruits like watermelon and pineapple should be avoided or consumed in moderation. It's important to note that while fruits are a healthy addition to any diet, they should still be consumed in moderation on the Optavia plan.

Is Optavia just Keto? ›

Is Optavia a Ketogenic Diet? No, the Optavia diet is not an extremely low-carbohydrate diet like the ketogenic diet. On a keto diet, you eat a lot of fat, a moderate amount of protein, and very few carbs.

What happens when you stop Optavia? ›

Even if you are educated about the risks, many people gain weight after ending optavia some gain even more weight than they initially lost. Most people assume that's because they're going back to their old eating habits, eating far more than they should.

Why is Optavia so expensive? ›

In general, Optavia can also be quite expensive since you have to purchase a lot of their pre-made entrees, Ehsani says. "It may be convenient for the person who doesn't cook, but it's not teaching them lifelong skills for success," she says. "You shouldn't need to follow a diet that's all pre-packed foods.

Can I drink alcohol on Optavia? ›

Drinking alcohol is not recommended while on the OPTAVIA Program. Consuming alcohol increases your calorie and carbohydrate intake, which can take your body out of the fat-burning state and hinder weight loss. Alcohol is not recommended because it: Contributes extra calories of no nutritional value.

What is similar to Optavia but cheaper? ›

There are several cheaper protein shakes that are similar to Optavia, such as Premier Protein, Orgain, and Muscle Milk.

What is the $400 weight loss program? ›

The Optavia diet involves eating small pre-prepared meals, called fuelings, throughout the day. Optavia's fuelings can be expensive costing between $400 and $450 per month. Optavia's most popular plan, 5&1, involves eating low carbs, lean meats, and about 1,000 calories/day.

How fast do you lose weight on Optavia? ›

*Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Do Optavia coaches get paid? ›

Welcoming Clients and supporting them on their journey are the foundation of a successful OPTAVIA business and, for many, are the starting point in our business model. OPTAVIA Coaches are compensated based on orders placed by their personally sponsored and supported Clients.

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