Weighing the Risks: Optavia’s Teen Diet Programs

Optavia has developed a modified weight loss program specifically for teenagers - but is it really safe and appropriate for adolescents? While the company claims their program is safe, the research suggests otherwise and experts are raising concerns about the potential long-term effects on the physical and mental health of teenagers on these weight loss programs.

In this article we will explore the risks associated with Optavia's teen diet programs and why it is important for parents to be aware of them.

What Exactly is The Optavia Diet?

Optavia is a weight loss program that offers meal plans, snacks, shakes, and supplements to help users achieve their desired body shape and optimal weight. 

They claim to do this by teaching healthy habits through their Health Transformational System. However, the program has been widely criticized for its controversial methods which call for extreme calorie restriction and frequent fasting — practices that can be dangerous for adults, let alone adolescents.

There are numerous potential risks associated with this type of starvation diet, including malnutrition, heart palpitations, fatigue, and low energy levels. Additionally, it can lead to long-term damage to the body’s natural appetite regulation system and eating behavior patterns, potentially leading to an inability to make healthy choices around food in the future. 

So while Optavia insists their modified program is safe for teens, parents should be aware of the potential risks associated with it — including body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, malnutrition and more. Before enrolling your teen in any diet program, make sure you understand all the potential risks and benefits.

How do the Optavia Teen programs work?

The Optavia Teen program is specifically tailored to be less extreme than the adult version, and designed for teenagers aged 13-18 to be able to use. Even still, many experts are worried about the potential risks associated with its implementation. 

The program consists of an extreme calorie-controlled meal plan that includes Optavia shakes and supplements (referred to in the program as "fuelings"), with small meals spaced out every 2-3 hours.

Optavia Teen Girls Program

The Teen Girls program is targeted toward helping young women reach an “optimal weight." Teenage girls are encouraged to eat approximately 1600-1800 calories a day, including three Optavia "Fuelings" each day. Fuelings are pre-packaged meal replacement items that come in forms such as shakes and bars.

For teenage girls to sustain a healthy lifestyle, they should be consuming around 2200 calories daily - however, this may prove difficult with the goal of having an energy deficit of 600 calories and because of the ultra-processed nature of meals like Fuelings, opting for an Optavia diet could easily result in malnutrition and become hazardous for teenage girls. It is easy to see why that might be concerning.

Optavia Teen Boys Program

The Teen Boys program is targeted toward helping young men reach an “optimal weight."  Teenage boys are encouraged to eat approximately 1800-2000 calories a day, including three Optavia "Fuelings" each day. 

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, teenage boys should consume on average 2800 calories per day; With the requirement to eat ultra-processed items such as Fuelings instead of nutrient-rich food and a 1000 calorie restriction every day, participating in the Optavia Teen program could lead teenage boys into an unsafe diet that causes malnutrition quickly. Again, it is easy to see the cause for concern with placing teenagers on an Optavia diet.

The Cost of Optavia Teen Programs

The Optavia Teen program is expensive, with the majority of the cost going towards the cost of the Optavia diet "fuelings." You can expect to pay an average of $270-$400 for a month-long supply of bars, shakes, and soups.

This does not include the cost of food for the other meals and snacks you are required to have each day. Additionally, this does not include the cost of any startup costs, books, or tools recommended to begin the program.

What are the Risks of Optavia's Teen Diet Program?

The risks associated with Optavia's teen diet program are serious and should not be overlooked. While the plan may claim to help teens reach their health goals, pursuing weight loss in adolescents can have an adverse effect on their overall wellbeing. 

The American Pediatric Association (APA) strongly urges parents to avoid talking about body weight with their children and to instead advise parents to focus on healthy lifestyle habits with their children, such as eating nutritious foods, getting adequate sleep and being active. This is because the health risks of trying to promote weight loss, or control or manipulate a teenager's body weight far outweigh any potential benefits.

Restrictive eating habits, such as those encouraged on Optavia plans, can lead to malnutrition, putting teens at risk of not getting the essential nutrients needed for healthy development. 

Abby Langer, Registered Dietician and author of Good Food, Bad Diet, confirmed that "Optavia Teen provides far fewer calories than what I would recommend as a dietician." Consuming a diet inadequate in calories can lead to fatigue, poor concentration, and decreased physical activity - all of which can have a negative impact on teenage development. 

Additionally, the pressure to conform to an ‘ideal body’ can lead to a rise in unhealthy habits such as disordered eating and even eating disorders.  All of these things should be taken into consideration when thinking about whether or not Optavia's teen plan is right for you.

The Risk of Malnutrition on Optavia Teen

Malnutrition is a very real problem among teens. Eating a balanced diet with the right nutrients is essential for healthy living, and teens should be getting an adequate amount of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in order to provide their bodies with the energy and nutrients they need. This means eating a variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and healthy fats.

While Optavia’s teen plans can seem beneficial for some individuals looking to achieve healthy weight loss, Langer warns "this may be resulting in the labeling of certain foods as 'good' or 'bad', which is a disordered and damaging way of looking at food."

This type of strict approach to nutrition can make it harder for teens to maintain healthy eating habits into adulthood. Rather than enabling a binary outlook, work with your teens to cultivate an overall positive relationship with food and develop the awareness needed when making choices for their overall health!

The Risk of Disordered Eating on Optavia Teen

The risks that disordered eating can have on teenagers cannot be underestimated, especially for teens who use restrictive diets like Optavia Teen. Studies have found that dieting during adolescence has been linked to an increased risk of developing an eating disorder, which is the 2nd most lethal psychiatric disorder, and has devastating, life-long effects on mental health. 
In particular, teenage girls are the most at-risk group which makes the notion of these Optavia teen plans even more concerning.                                                                    

The dangers of teenage dieting are immense, and Langer makes it clear that these risks cannot be overlooked: “Not only do diets, during adolescence, potentially lead to a dysfunctional relationship with food and weight into adulthood, but what are you saying to your child when you tell them that they need to go on a diet? This messaging can have lasting repercussions and form negative core beliefs that could stay with them for decades, if not their entire life." 

Rather than turning to diet, parents should educate their teens on how to make healthy lifestyle choices that don't involve trying to control weight. Encouraging regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can help create healthier habits for your child. 

It's also important to talk to them about body image and self-esteem, so they can learn to accept and appreciate themselves as they are. Optavia Teen may promise quick results but it comes with too many risks for your teen's mental and physical health. Healthy living is about so much more than dieting or being on a weight loss journey - it's about creating an overall healthy lifestyle.

The Risk of Uninformed Consent in Weight Loss

In today's society, teens are unfortunately facing a lot of pressure in regards to their weight, leading them to consider unhealthy methods of dieting. Companies such as Optavia have capitalized on this issue by offering teen-specific diet plans. Although these programs may seem like an easy solution to lose weight quickly, they are not without risks and can have long-term health consequences.

Because teens are not equipped with the same knowledge and experience as adults, they may not be able to make informed decisions about their health when it comes to dieting. They are also more susceptible to peer pressure or body image issues, which could lead them towards seeking unhealthy behaviors. 

Furthermore, these short-term solutions are not addressing the deeper issues at hand, such as emotional eating or body image. It's important to recognize that teens are still growing and developing, and any drastic changes in diet could have serious implications for their long-term health. Instead of sending your teen on a restrictive weight loss program, focus on helping them build healthy habits that will serve them into adulthood. 

This means encouraging them to be physically active and eat whole foods in appropriate portions. With the right guidance and support, they can learn to make informed decisions about food and nutrition that will help them maintain a healthy weight throughout their life. 

Is Optavia a Pyramid Scheme?

Optavia has a business model that has been subject to much scrutiny and criticism. The company is an MLM (multi-level marketing) organization, which means it incentivizes its members to recruit new customers and promote its products. This has led some people to label it as a pyramid scheme, owing to the fact that Optavia makes money from its members' purchases. 

Although it's difficult to definitively determine whether Optavia is a pyramid scheme or not, the company certainly employs a controversial business model that has raised eyebrows. With all of this in mind, one thing is for sure: The Optavia diet isn't just about the weight loss journey; it's also about making money. 

The problem with MLM companies is that they can be exploitative and predatory. According to reports by the FTC and AARP, people who participate in MLMs are more likely to lose money than they are to make any. And when it comes to Optavia, the company has faced additional criticism due to its emphasis on recruiting teens and young adults through its Optavia Teen program. 

Although Optavia claims that this is about helping younger generations learn healthy habits, some people have argued that the program is just a way for the company to capitalize on a vulnerable demographic. 

The Role of Optavia Coaches

Optavia leverages Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) to reach its customers, and one of the most deceptive aspects of this business model is their "coaches." These are people that have been recruited into the MLM for the sole purpose of promoting and selling the services that Optavia has to offer. 

To the shock of many, Optavia Coaches are not professionals in nutrition, health, or dietetics. They are simply people who have participated in the Optavia diet themselves. Thus they cannot provide reliable advice on meal plans and diets without proper qualifications and experience in those areas. 

They especially should not be trusted with managing the health of adolescents, who are in a vulnerable stage of life. Ultimately, it is important to always be mindful of who you get your health advice from and remember that Optavia's coaches are not qualified to provide the best advice for teen weight loss or optimal health. 

Conclusion

Optavia is a controversial weight loss program that has been criticized for its use of MLM techniques and its focus on recruiting teens. Although the program promises fast results, it has also been known to be unsustainable and can even have longer-term health implications. 

Rather than selecting an extreme diet plan like Optavia Teen to help their child lose weight, parents should focus on helping their teens build healthy habits that will serve them into adulthood. 

Encouraging physical activity and eating whole foods in appropriate portions is the best way to help your teen maintain a healthy weight throughout life, so always be sure to consult with a doctor or qualified health professional before making any major dietary changes. 

Abby Langer is a Registered Dietitian, author of the bestselling book “Good Food, Bad Diet," and creator of "Eating Over 40." If you're looking for some food know-how with a sprinkle of practicality then check out what Abby has to offer via the links below!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/langernutrition

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbylangernutrition

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@langernutrition

And make sure to check out Abby’s own article on Optavia!

• References

  A Teenager’s Nutritional Needs. (n.d.-a). HealthyChildren.Org. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/nutrition/Pages/A-Teenagers-Nutritional-Needs.aspx

  A Teenager’s Nutritional Needs. (n.d.-b). HealthyChildren.Org. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/nutrition/Pages/A-Teenagers-Nutritional-Needs.aspx

  Abby Langer (@langernutrition) • Instagram photos and videos. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.instagram.com/langernutrition/

  Multilevel Marketing. (n.d.). AARP. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/income/multilevel-marketing/

  Patton GC, Selzer R, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Wolfe R.  Onset of adolescent eating disorders: population based cohort study over 3 years. BMJ. 1999;318(7186):765–768 [PubMed]

  Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America. (n.d.).

  Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers | NIDDK. (n.d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved January 23, 2023, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/take-charge-health-guide-teenagers

  Thomas F. Cash PhD, Linda Smolak PhD - Body Image, Second Edition_ A Handbook of Science, Practice, and Prevention - Second Edition -The Guilford Press (2011).pdf