Jenny Craig Weight Management Program
Commercial weight loss frachise at www.jennycraig.com

Background:

In 1983, Jenny Craig started her first commercial weight loss program in Australia. Personal success with weight loss inspired both Jenny Craig and her husband, Sig Craig to establish the Jenny Craig Weight Management Program in Australia, United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Neither the Craigs nor other board members of the Jenny Craig Weight Management Program have any formal training in nutrition or exercise. Jenny Craig Weight Management Program headquarters are located in La Jolla, CA.

Diet Claims:

According to the Jenny Craig company's web site (www.jennycraig.com), this commercial program's philosophy for successful weight loss is:
1. A healthy relationship with food
2. An active lifestyle
3. A balanced approach to living

The web site also states that the 28-day preset menus (including vacuum-sealed prepared meals) were developed by dietitians to meet the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The targeted macronutrient composition of Jenny Craig weight loss 1200-1500 calorie menus is 60% carbohydrate, 20% fat and 20% protein. In the Chicago area, the one-time enrollment fee is approximately $20.00. Clients are also required to pay a minimum of $84.00/week for their Jenny Craig prepared meals and nutrition supplements. Signing a six-month or longer contract may also be mandatory by some Jenny Craig franchises to keep "paying" clients in its program.

Clients are required to have a 20-minute personal consultation weekly with former Jenny Craig participants who received a 7-day training program on diet and exercise counseling. Clients are weighed at these sessions. Then Jenny Craig Weight Management Program encourages clients to engage in 30 minutes of exercise or activity daily. Two types of Jenny Craig exercise videotapes and resistance tubing can be purchased to facilitate increased activity among the program's clients.

Foods Allowed:

Jenny Craig brand packaged meals, snacks and supplements. Fruits, vegetables and nonfat dairy foods are limited per Jenny Craig's 28-day menu planner. Vegetarian choices are available.

Foods Restricted:

"Homemade" meals, commercial items (except those carrying the Jenny Craig label), sweets and other foods that are not listed on the Jenny Craig's 28-day menu planner.

Sample Menu:

Breakfast:
6 (2.5") silver dollar pancakes 
1 packet reduced calorie syrup
1 vegetarian breakfast patty
1 cup skim milk
1 medium orange
Jenny Craig­ Vitamin & Mineral Supplement

Lunch:
Grilled chicken sandwich-
  3 oz chicken breast
  1 large wheat bun
  2 tablespoons mustard sauce
2 cups tossed salad 
   with tomatoes and 2 tablespoons fat-free dressing
1 cup baby carrots

Dinner:
6 ounces steamed flounder
1 cup steamed green beans with lemon
1 cup linguine topped with 1/4 cup marinara sauce

Snack:
1 cup low-fat macaroni and cheese
1 cup green beans & carrots
1/2 cup mixed fresh fruit
1 cup skim milk

Nutrition Analysis of Sample Menu:*

Calories:		1496
Protein:		88 g	23% calories
Total fat:	40 g	24% calories
Carbohydrate:	201 g	53% calories

Saturated fat:	17 g
Cholesterol:	152 mg 
Sodium:		3454 mg
Fiber:		16 g

*Menu items were imputed into NDS 2.93 database for analysis.  
Jenny Craig Vitamin & Mineral supplement was not included in analysis.

• Jenny Craig menus are low in fiber possibly due to limited choices of whole grain foods. Some daily menu plans may be low in iron, zinc and vitamin E.
• Jenny Craig Weight Management Program required packaged meals are not conducive for teaching clients how to shop, cook and eat their own healthy, calorie-controlled meals. Hence, clients who resume their usual eating habit are likely to regain weight loss upon completing the Jenny Craig Program.
• Some clients may have difficulty eating Jenny Craig packaged meals long-term, especially during periods of travel, social dining or illness.
• Since Jenny Craig counselors have no formal training in weight loss management, clients received questionable information on diet and exercise during their weekly personal consultations.
• Group meetings are not offered at Jenny Craig franchises. But on-line "chat" groups are available to clients.
• Since 90% of Jenny Craig's clientele is female, overweight men may feel uncomfortable participating in this program.

Weight Loss Promise:

Expected rate of weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. Weight maintenance program is also available at a cost of $200.00 per year.

Potential Health Problems:

Possible iron-deficiency anemia for menstruating females who do not eat red meat or fortified breakfast cereals on a regular basis.