Type of Counseling:  small group, in-person

Typical Cost:  $250-500

Type Program:  health club/organization

Type of Foods Used:  regular grocery store food

At-Home or Direct Mail Plan Available?  No

YMCA of the USA

101 North Wacker Dr.

Chicago, IL 60606

800-872-9622    Website: www.ymca.net

Originally founded as a Christian association, the Y has expanded beyond its name in the U.S., now welcoming all faiths. Half of its 20.2 million members are female. There are more than 2,600 YMCAs in the United States, run by 967 independently run YMCA associations across the nation.

There are many different metro/city YMCA associations. YMCAs are very localized in nature and their programs vary from location to location. However, one recent development that is national in nature is a new strategic plan that sees the organization as America's main fitness and obesity crusader. The Y is now aggressively expanding health-related initiatives, most notably through a program called Activate America.

New Activate America Program...

Hundreds of local YMCAs nationwide are retraining staff, redesigning facilities and revising activities to better serve millions of Americans that find it hard to stick to diet and fitness programs. So far, 370+ of the Y's associations (of 967 total) have joined Activate America. The YMCA's new direction was first tested in Pittsburgh, PA. There, programs were designed to help people establish healthier lifestyles, and an after-school program was also offered. 3 days a week, every child in the plan gets a structured exercise program plus information on healthy eating and snacking.

The YMCA of greater Pittsburgh has a similar program for teens, a corporate wellness program, and another for senior citizens. The YMCA of greater New York has a new 12-week personalized exercise program, free to members, with 4 individual sessions with a fitness coach.

Note: Despite lower fees, a survey of 10,000 gym users, recently released by Consumer Reports magazine, found that health facilities at Ys and other non-profit centers were generally better rated than the large health club chains.

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BestDietforMe.com analysts in the past have interviewed management at the headquarters and called about 30 YMCAs across the U.S., to obtain information about any weight loss programs they might offer. Very few have a formal or standardized program. In most cases, you get exercise classes and equipment and there may be a personal trainer on hand that has some nutrition background. It’s possible that some YMCAs may use a local dietitian or nutritionist to give occasional lectures.

Nutritional counseling is generally free to YMCA members. You meet one-on-one to discuss your nutritional concerns and they design a personal program specific to your lifestyle and needs. Additional sessions with a nutritionist usually cost about $40/hr, $70 for non-members.

YMCA headquarters personnel say that two weight loss/wellness programs are offered at some (not all) YMCAs. These include the following:

It’s important to realize that YMCA programs and fees, if any, will vary from location to location. For example, in Tampa, FL one YMCA branch leases space to a local community hospital that, in turn, runs a weight management program, offers massage therapy and other health care services. In general, you will pay the going local monthly rate (about $80/month for a family membership in Tampa, FL), plus the cost of any special weight loss program.

In the United States there are about 29,500 health clubs operating today. A substantial share of them offer some kind of weight loss plan, in addition to just exercise. The reality is that most people that join health clubs are there to lose or maintain weight. The industry’s trade group "IHRSA" further reports that 41 million Americans are paying dues to be members of health clubs. Of these members, 51.6% are women. IHRSA reports that the big growth segment today is people over age 55, more of whom are exercising for quality of life concerns, not to lose weight.

Health clubs find adding weight loss to be a "natural" for members, since the dieter has access to exercise facilities and expertise, as well as nutrition information -- a combination that’s rarely available at the typical commercial weight loss center.

According to Club Industry magazine... "Many club owners spend almost no money on paid advertising. One owner says that 90% of his new customers are referred by current or former clients".

Health clubs also recognize that they need to offer programs for pregnant women, the excessively overweight and older people. Nutrition service vendors say baby boomers will demand a greater variety of weight-management products, as they grow older and heavier.

Another telling quote: "We have all of them here in the area: Jenny Craig, Diet Center, Weight Watchers,"... But we don’t see them as competition. We get a lot of referrals from them because they see us as offering the exercise component they don’t. When we opened seven years ago our marketing strategy was to go to each of the commercial weight-loss centers and offer to give talks on exercise and weight loss."

Exercise is NOT a primary component of most weight-loss programs. There’s a big void between Jenny Craig, for example, and health clubs, say club owners. The health club is in a unique position to work with one of the weight-loss clinics. For example, when one purchases a Jenny Craig diet program they could get a membership in a health club.

Some clubs hire a professional counselor or train an existing staff member to provide nutrition information. At other locations, a registered dietitian (RD) or nutritionist offers counseling, then gives the club a percentage of fees in exchange for free office space. Other strategies include homemade or turnkey programs, or simply selling non-prescription nutritional supplements and weight loss aids. Yet another alternative is to join forces with a commercial weight-loss center.

According to consultants and industry insiders, fitness clubs are only beginning to aggressively market themselves as weight management and nutrition centers. Club Industry magazine reported that many club owners are focusing on current members to launch new weight management programs. While media attention builds interest in the program, the "facilitator" (group leader) is the main reason why people stay with or leave the program (The same is true for popular group leaders in commercial diet programs).

Health club industry consultants also estimates that 50% of health cubs today offer some type of weight loss program, and they point out that they run the gamut in style, content and price. Frequently, they’re not called "diet" programs, but "nutrition" programs. All such programs are based on proper nutrition coupled with exercise. Personal trainers are getting involved as well, being bundled with a club’s nutrition program.

According to consultants, the most successful programs are found in health clubs where nutrition, fitness and weight management programming are the central themes to all other member activities. The typical price for a 12-week program with one-on-one counseling usually ranges from $129-299. Most health club owners undervalue their weight management programs. However, most clubs discover that the price of their weight management plan, in addition to the cost of a membership, still comes out less that fees charged by the large commercial diet companies.

BestDietForMe.com analysts feel that most YMCAs in the United States don’t really have a strong expertise in weight loss, per se. Their strong suit is exercise, as it is for most health club chains. The staff is likely to be "light" on weight loss and nutrition counseling and expertise. There is no comprehensive team of specialists like RDs, weight loss counselors, MDs, etc. Their personal trainers seem to do double duty, and receive a small amount of counseling training. Don’t expect a lot of handholding or help with psychological aspects of weight control, nor any long-term follow-up. This is first and foremost an exercise facility, although the Y seems to be placing more emphasis on healthy lifestyle education with its new Activate America program.