Lifestyle programs can provide a helpful structure for your health journey when you feel out of control with unhealthy habits. In particular, they can be especially useful in helping you achieve your weight goals. Programs are a great way to join individuals going on the same journey, which can be incredibly motivating.
Everyone is different, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a weight management program. It ultimately depends on what suits your individual needs and what fits into your lifestyle. Some people want rigid rules and a quick fix, whereas others like more flexibility and a long-term lifestyle change.
To save you some tiresome research and help to answer some important questions, this guide compares two popular online weight loss meal delivery programs; Nutrisystem and Optavia (previously known as Medifast).
Both Nutrisystem and Optavia are meal plan programs that provide pre-packaged low-calorie meals and snacks which are delivered to your door, taking away the need to plan or prepare healthy meals yourself.
With Nutrisystem, all meals and snacks are provided. With Optavia, you get 5 ‘essential fuelings’ provided each day and cook one ‘lean and green’ meal yourself.
Pre-packaged foods are not sustainable in the long term and the long-term aim is to transition from pre-packaged meal plans to cooking meals again for yourself.
When you do choose to start preparing your own meals again, you haven’t had the chance to learn skills such as meal planning, and how to prepare healthy meals. This can make it more difficult to stay healthy and maintain your weight after finishing your program.
We’ve also included comparisons with the Second Nature program. Second Nature is an easy-to-follow lifestyle change program that can help you achieve your weight goals sustainably, with scientific articles, in-app tracking, and dedicated support from a coach with expertise in nutrition and wellness. Second Nature gives you the tools you need to achieve their weight goals sustainably.
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Reviews
Trustpilot is a platform where consumers can leave reviews and scores reflect overall customer satisfaction. Optavia don’t have many reviews on Trustpilot, so we’ve included reviews from Customer Affairs.
| Nutrisystem | Optavia (Medifast) | Second Nature | |
| Star rating |  |
 |
 |
| Score | 1.5 / 5 read reviews |
4.05 / 5 read reviews |
4.8 / 5 read reviews |
Signing up
| Nutrisystem | Optavia (Medifast) | Second Nature | |
| Money back guarantee | If you’re not satisfied with your first order, contact their customer service within 14 days and return any remaining food for a full refund minus shipping. | If you are not completely satisfied with your order, you may return the consumable products in your order for any reason; non-consumable items are non-refundable. Please return consumable products within 30 days of receipt of your order for a full refund minus shipping. | Full refund if cancelled within 14 days. After this point, any charges are non-refundable. |
| Clear breakdown of costs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clear cancellation policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Length of program | The program is 4 weeks but can be repeated until you reach your goal | Meal packs last for approximately 3 weeks and can be repeated for as long as needed | Ongoing subscription (minimum 12 weeks) |
| Easy to cancel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refer-a-friend scheme | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy to include family | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Nutrition
| Nutrisystem | Optavia (Medifast) | Second Nature | |
| Dietary approach | Pre-packaged meals and snacks (low calorie) | Pre-packaged meals and snacks (low calorie) | Lower carb |
| Caters to vegetarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Caters to vegan | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Supplements encouraged | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ Other than Vitamin D |
Support
| Nutrisystem | Optavia (Medifast) | Second Nature | |
| Tailors the plan around diabetes | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tailors the plan around other health issues | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Face-to-face meetings | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Access to a qualified nutrition specialist | ✓ (for ad-hoc enquiries) |
✗ | ✓* |
| Daily support from a coach | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ (weekdays only) |
*Second Nature coaches are all UK registered dietitians or nutritionists. This means they have completed university accredited degrees to gain this professional title. However, coaches are not registered in the US, so don’t meet the regulatory requirements to be considered US registered dietitians or nutritionists.
Program features
| Nutrisystem | Optavia (Medifast) | Second Nature | |
| App | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exercise videos in app | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recipe videos in app | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tracks sleep | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks steps | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks exercise | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks water intake | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks custom habits | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Education of nutrition science | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Requires calorie counting | ✗ (pre-packaged food is calorie controlled on your behalf) |
✗ (pre-packaged food is calorie controlled on your behalf) |
✗ |
| Food diary feature | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Meal planning tool | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-app journalling tool | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Pricing
When programs provide price plans in different formats, it can be hard to accurately compare prices. To make this easier, we have calculated the price of monthly digital price plans on each program to show you how costs compare (as of July 2021). All admin fees are included in these prices.
Nutrisystem’s pricing is based on their ‘Uniquely Yours Max+ programme’. Optavia’s pricing is based on their ‘Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan’.
The Nutrisystem program includes all meals and snacks. With Optavia, you get 5 ‘essential fuelings’ provided each day and cook one ‘lean and green’ meal yourself. A ‘lean and green’ meal consists of lean protein, 3 portions of vegetables, and 1-2 portions of fat. Ingredients for these meals would add additional costs to the program cost shown below.
Both programs include some degree of include coaching.
Nutrisystem coaches are either specially trained weight loss coaches, dietitians, or certified diabetes educators. There’s no ongoing coaching option so you aren’t assigned a personal coach, but you can contact a coach by phone or online as and when you need extra support.
When signing up for Octavia, you’re assigned a personal coach. However, Optavia coaches are typically past members and have no nutrition or health-related qualifications. They work by commission so have an incentive to encourage you to stay on the program rather than build lasting healthy habits.
Second Nature doesn’t include pre-packaged food. Instead, the Second Nature program offers an education in nutrition science, helping you to build better habits and develop a better relationship with food. Daily coaching is also included.
All Second Nature coaches are qualified nutrition specialists. Having a coach with an expertise in nutrition and wellness to support and guide you makes achieving your weight goals easier.
Another option to get support with your diet would be to see a registered dietitian. Weekly face-to-face sessions with a registered dietitian can be very expensive ($70-$100). We have added a column representing this to compare costs (Weekly RD – WRD).
Monthly digital subscriptions:
| Nutrisystem | Optavia (Medifast) | Second Nature | WRD | |
| Access to a qualified nutrition specialist | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The same, personal coach throughout the program | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | $409.99 / month | $540 / month | $60 / month | $350 / month |
Pricing for Nutrisystem is based on their ‘Uniquely Yours Max+’ program, priced at $12.50 each day, based on 31 days in a month. The program includes 3 meals a day, plus snacks.
Pricing for Optavia is based on their ‘Essential Optimal Kit’, priced at $414.60 for 119 servings, lasting approximately 24 days. This works out at a cost of $17.42 per day.
Take home message
- When choosing a weight management program, it is important to consider what would fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals
- Nutrisystem, Optavia, and Second Nature are all app-based programs
- Pre-packaged meal plans, although convenient, are difficult to include your family and you may feel restricted when eating out
- Second Nature provides ongoing coaching with a qualified nutrition specialist to support you throughout your health journey
- There’s no ongoing coaching option with Nutrisystem
- Ongoing coaching is available with Optavia, but coaches do not have to have any relevant qualifications
- Nutrisystem and Optavia focus on rapid weight loss, Second Nature tackles weight loss holistically, including education on exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mindset
- Second Nature provides you with an education of nutrition, allowing you to make informed decisions yourself and develop a healthy relationship with food in the long-term
