US researchers have stated that it is not necessary that a non-profit and cheaper weight loss program is not as good as more expensive commercial ones.

It was noticed by Dr Nia Mitchell of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo., and colleagues that five to seven per cent of body weight was lost and was kept off by those who spent three years in the non-profit Take Off Pounds Sensibly program.

Mitchell said, "This is the first time a study of this size and duration has ever been done on a weight loss program. The natural history of weight loss is weight regain and we were happy to see that people were able to keep off the weight."

Several people who were enrolled in TOPS were tracked by the researchers. Members are helped by TOPS to lose pounds by regular weigh-ins, weekly meetings conducted by support groups and education.

Mitchell added that with a six-week lesson plan members receive a booklet, membership in the local chapter a one-year subscription to TOPS News.

Yearly expenditure on TOPS is about $90 a year. Mitchell stated that about $480 to $625 is what Weight Watchers costs, and between $3,600 to $6,500 a year will be shelled out for Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig, which include food.