What is the Optavia Diet?

Optavia is marketed as a weight-loss or maintenance plan that prescribes eating a mix of purchased, processed food created by the company — called “fuelings” — and homemade “lean and green” meals.

The program doesn’t call for you to count carbohydrates or calories. Instead, followers add water to powdered food products or unwrap a bar as part of a chosen meal plan, which can include up to six portion-controlled meals daily.

The Optavia diet is considered a high-protein diet, with protein making up 10–35% of your daily calories. It’s also clear that the program relies on creating a calorie deficit in your dietary routine for initial weight loss results, which requires long-term maintenance.

But here are a few reasons why I don’t recommend this diet:

  -Poor Effect on Metabolism

Low-calorie meals can slow metabolism and cause extreme fatigue due to low energy for the body and less release of the thyroid hormone This can lead to weight retention and difficulty losing weigh, although metabolism can be restored it takes 5-6 months on average  

– High amount of processed foods

The processed, powdered variety of protein that’s featured in programs like Optavia can lead to some less-than-pleasant side effects. Optavia refers to meals/snacks as ‘fuelings’ which are designed to replace meals. These protein powders often contain additives (including sugar alcohols, emulsifiers and texturizing agents) that can lead to unwanted GI side effects, making you far better off eating meals that include high protein foods that you enjoy vs. drinking them in the form of powder that may promote feelings of discomfort— particularly in the context of extreme calorie deficit

– No Clinical Judgement

Optavia offers guidance from its own staff of ‘diet coaches’ to help you learn their trademarked “Habits of Health” — these individuals are not required to obtain any medical accreditation to perform these services, to be clear.

    Bottom line Optavia is not healthy for the body. You may lose weight in the short  term due to a form of starvation but ultimately the body will slow metabolism in order to conserve energy. Overall you will not feel well as the body is underfed, you can expect low energy levels, light headedness, and irritability. The ‘health coaches’ are also making a business decision when they recommend your plan not a medical based decision with your best interest in mind.