According to statistics, every year, over 50 million Americans engage in some activity to reduce weight; However, only 15 percent achieve their weightloss goals and only 5 percent are able to maintain their desired weight. Experts say that the success or failure of weight loss aspirants is largely reliant on the method of weight loss they select. Moreover, they said that people who use supplements to shed weight are likely have poor results while individuals who choose to take up weight loss programs show more positive outcomes. The problem is, not all fitness plans are made equal, so you'll need to be very careful so you can find an effective weight loss program.

When it comes to losing weight, it has been proven that following an explicitly laid-out plan of action is more effective than individual efforts. However, with the surplus of weight loss programs, products and plans on the market, it can be difficult to tell which method is actually effective for you. To help you weed out the bad ones from the good ones, I have created a list of how you can tell whether a program is effective or not:

• It doesn't promote or involve the use of any kind of weight loss supplement like for example tablets, powders, concentrates and injectables which are not reckoned safe by health professionals.

• It meets your needs, wants and personal inclination. Unless a program is in keeping with all these elements, no matter how well-structured it is, it will not be the best and most effective program for you. If you don't want to see yourself quitting in the middle of your weight loss program, see to it that you choose one that you know you would like and is perfect for your needs and goals.

• The program doesn't make promises of helping you lose a significant amount of weight in a very short time. Are the program's claims in line with the globally recommended rate of weight loss? If not, then you might want to consider disregarding that program. Bear in mind that if a program seems to good to be true, it most likely is.

• It is put together by someone or a team that has specialized knowledge on health, fitness and weight loss.

• The program has a remarkable list of clients who have successfully achieved their target weight and maintained it. It isn't enough that you take a look at how many people were able to lose some weight through the program, you should also look at how many were able to keep off the weight they lost permanently.

• The program comes with diet and exercise plans. The role of diet and exercise in achieving weight loss has long been established and recognized. Thereby, any program that lacks any of these two elements would be very unlikely to bring a positive and lasting outcome.

• The program's dietary plans are not overly restrictive and intended for long-term adherence. Restrictive diets may make you reduce weight fast but their results are often temporary. Why? Basically because it is very unlikely that anyone could adhere to this type of diet for an extended period of time. And, when you quit, your body will drive you to overeating as a natural response to those times of extreme deprivation.

• It will not harm your health in any way--directly or indirectly. People who attempt to shed weight do so for a whole bunch of different reasons, but most of the time it's because they want to be more attractive, move faster or feel more confident. There is nothing bad about having all these reasons. However, you should not forget the importance of your health. No matter how effective a weight loss approach is, if it comes with some health repercussions, never ever consider using it.