Florida-based eDiets have been around since the early days of the Internet (started in 1996), and boast an incredible amount of members – over 1.8 million (over the duration of eDiets history). They have connections in high places (including this interview with US president Bush). eDiets have been ranked as the #1 Most Trafficked Health, Fitness & Nutrition Site, and been voted “Best of the Web”in the diet and nutrition category by Forbes. However recent years have not been so good for eDiets — with revenues dropping as they face more competition in the weight loss space. Their Meal Delivery program has bucked the trend, with both increasing revenues and customer retention.

That said, what are they really like?
The sign-up to eDiets starts with a profile — you select your goals and preferences. You can choose from a number of newsletters (or decline altogether). eDiets will then recommend a particular weight loss plan for you. This will be one of the following:

• Glycemic Impact Diet
• eDiets.com Weight Loss Plan
• New Mediterranean Diet
• Bill Phillips’ Eating For Life.
• Fresh Prepared Meal Delivery

OTHER DIETS:

• Seasonal Diet (meal plans vary depending on season)
• Living With Type 2 Diabetes Plan
• Heart Smart Plan
• Low Sodium Plan
• Cholesterol-Lowering Plan
• High Fiber Plan
• Hypoglycemia/Low Sugar Plan
• Healthy Soy Plan
• Vegetarian Diet
• Lactose-Free Plan
• Low Fat Diet Plan
• Wheat-Free Meal Plan

What Comes with the Diet

Each plan comes with a full set of features including; access to a personal trainer, exercise and fitness plans, recipe database, member forums and message boards.

One notable feature is the access to registered dietitians.

Costs

eDiets have a straight subscription price for any diet: $4.49 per week – billed monthly (that’s 17.96 per month). If you cancel before 3 months is up, you will be charged a $25 fee. Children under 13 are not permitted to sign-up, and teenagers between 13 and 18 need parental permission. Membership is restricted to US & Canada.  There is many sites that offer you eDiets Coupons than can save you you up to 25% on your order.

Weight Loss Approach

eDiets focus on providing meal plans that will lead to weight loss of up to 2 pounds per week. Central to their approach is that of mutual support. The have a weight loss guarantee (if you don’t lose weight within 6 months you get 6 months membership free). As part of this you must weight on monthly, and interact with the support message boards at least once per month.

eDiets have done the research and have discovered that those who are most connected to the community have the highest chance of reaching weight loss goals, and will not fall off the program.

Caveats and Cons

The eDiets Store seems unnecessary. The on-line store allows users to buy everything from exercise music, to eDiets-branded vitamins. It may be convenient as a one-stop shop – but in our opinion, removes the focus from simply offering good weight loss plans.

What Makes eDiets Different?

On-line weight loss is a crowded space. One of the features of eDiets is the ability to access individual support from experts (trainers and dietitians).

Opinion

Anecdotally, eDiets works. A look around various opinion sites shows that people have lost weight with eDiets, and bad reviews are rare. The tools are good, but as time has gone on eDiets has been facing more and more competition in the online diet sector.

Are eDiets Really Worth It?
Yes – they are. Even if only subscribing for a quarter, it is a great way to educate yourself on nutrition and a weight-maintaining lifestyle.

Meal Delivery
The eDiets meal delivery program goes from strength to strength and may well be the most popular way of losing weight at eDiets. Fresh Prepared has two options: 7 day delivery, or 5 day delivery. Costs are about $19.95 per day.