Selecting A Weight Loss Program

The step is an important one, not so much because of savings to taxpayers (the deduction really has only limited value), but more because it marks a shift in government point of view.

Excess body fat is also strongly linked to depression and poor self-esteem.

Clearly, reversing the rising tide of obesity is important.

After all, it's estimated that the total cost of overweight/obesity in the U.S approaches $100 billion annually, with about half of that spent in preventive, diagnostic and treatment services.

But in the past, we could do it only if weight loss was undertaken at a physician's direction to treat other diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.

Thus, American taxpayers may deduct the cost of weight loss programs without having to show that the weight loss was undertaken to treat another disease.

Weight loss programs, behavioral counseling, pharmaceuticals and surgery all qualify with one caveat.

5% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross income and if they are not reimbursed by insurance.

On the other hand, weight loss expenses for cosmetic reasons or general good health are not deductible nor are personal trainers, health club memberships or diet- related foods.

5% of adjusted gross income.

The next steps need to go further to identify standards for treatment.

And if it is, it still may not be the most important part.

Instead, what counts is whether that body, whatever its size, is generally considered healthy in terms of physical and emotional well-being, and supports its inhabitant in her life aims.

And if they can help women along the path to health, fitness and increased self-esteem, we say good.

And certainly, most of us will take all the help with our taxes we can get!

Choosing a Weight Loss Program

Obviously, we at Green Mountain encourage you to choose non-diet approaches that don't focus on weight loss per se, but instead help you build your physical and mental strength to make choices that are in your best interests.

Does the program focus on weight loss as an end in itself, or is weight loss recognized as only a part of achieving health and wellness for some people? If weight loss is the ultimate goal, we can get easily sidetracked with quick schemes that may lead to quick weight loss.

Is the food and eating advice restrictive? When choice is absent, deprivation often takes us in the opposite direction than desired.

Look for programs that help you build your internal ability to choose foods that support well-being, and your internal ability to decide how much you need.

If you follow it, you might set up cravings that lead to overeating.

And after all, why go to all the trouble to lose it if you're just going to gain it back again? Been there, done that.

Is there any peer-reviewed, published research that measures the program's effectiveness? In the weight loss field especially, lots of claims abound.

Require it.

But remember - academic or professional degrees don't always guarantee competence.

If you've been at this long enough, you can probably easily recognize hucksters.