Search for a weight loss program in Chennai and you will find dietitians, hospital clinics, slimming centres, gyms, apps, meal plans and, more recently, weight-loss injections. They differ a lot in what they do, what they cost and how long the results last. These seven questions help you compare them, whoever you choose.
The main types of program
- Dietitian-led programs: a personal food plan, regular reviews and habit change. Suits most people who want to lose weight and keep it off.
- Hospital or doctor-led programs: a doctor and a dietitian together, often with blood tests and medicines. Useful when weight comes with diabetes, high blood pressure, PCOS or other conditions.
- Slimming or inch-loss centres: machine-based treatments, often with a diet chart. Ask what the machines do and what evidence there is.
- Gyms and fitness programs: good for strength and fitness; check who writes the food plan.
- Apps and online coaching: convenient and low cost; the plan is often less personal.
- Weight-loss medicines or surgery: for people with obesity or related health problems, only under a doctor.
1. Who will make my plan, and what are their qualifications?
Look for a qualified dietitian (a degree in dietetics or clinical nutrition, such as an M.Sc, with hospital experience) or a doctor working with one. Titles vary, so ask. Membership of the Indian Dietetic Association is a good sign.
2. Does it start with a proper assessment?
A good program asks about your food, work hours, sleep, activity, medicines and health reports (such as blood sugar, thyroid and cholesterol) before it writes a plan. A plan written without this is a guess.
3. Will I eat my normal food?
If the plan bans rice, idli and dosa, or depends on special foods you will not buy for long, it will not last. A plan built on South Indian home food, with portions and pairing changed, is far easier to follow.
4. How often is the plan reviewed and changed?
Weight loss is rarely a straight line. Weekly or fortnightly reviews catch problems early and adjust the plan before you lose heart.
5. What exactly do I pay, and what is included?
Ask for the full price before you start: the consultation, follow-ups, plan changes, and anything extra such as tests, products or machine sessions. Ask about the cancellation and refund policy too.
6. Do they sell supplements, powders or meal replacements?
Most people do not need them. A program that earns from products has a reason to push them.
7. What results do they promise?
Be careful with fixed promises such as "10 kg in 30 days" and with before-and-after photos without context. A healthy pace for most adults is about half a kilo to one kilo a week, and results vary from person to person. Even losing 5 to 10% of your body weight can improve blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol for many people.
Why the numbers are different for Indians
Asian Indians tend to carry more body fat, especially around the waist, than Europeans at the same BMI, and to develop diabetes and heart disease at lower weights. That is why Indian guidelines treat a BMI of 23 or more as overweight and 25 or more as obesity, lower than the international cut-offs of 25 and 30, and also look at waist size. A good program uses these numbers.
How long should a program be?
One month is enough to start and learn the basics. Three to six months gives time to build habits, get through slow weeks and learn to maintain on your own.
Red flags
- Guaranteed kilos or dates
- Very low-calorie diets without medical supervision
- "Detox" teas, fat-burning pills or "magic" foods
- Pressure to pay for a long package on the first visit
- No clear qualifications
How Healthy Diet Studio works
Healthy Diet Studio is a dietitian clinic on Mudichur Main Road, near Tambaram, Chennai. Dietitian Bhuvana B (M.Sc Dietetics, Gold Medalist; M.Phil Dietetics; life member of the Indian Dietetic Association) starts every weight loss program with a 45-minute assessment (₹2,000), builds the plan on the food you already cook, reviews it every week or two and sells no supplements. Programs run for 1, 3 or 6 months (₹12,000, ₹30,000, ₹50,000), at the clinic or online.
Sources
- Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity, abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome for Asian Indians, Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 2009
- Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies, WHO Expert Consultation, The Lancet, 2004
- Dietary Guidelines for Indians (2024), ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition
This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet if you have a health condition or take medicines.
