The Optifast Diet is an 18-week calorie-controlled weight loss program designed for maximum results. Around since the 1970s, the Optifast Diet claims to have helped over a million obese and overweight people -- including Oprah -- slim down.

During the first 12 weeks of the Optifast program, dieters are restricted to consuming liquids only, which come in ready-made meal replacements shakes and soups that are nutritionally balanced to ensure that they provide proper sustenance. During this liquid-only phase, dieters consume around 800 calories per day. After the first 12 weeks, dieters on the Optifast Diet enter a transition phase in which food is re-introduced into the diet, and daily intake during this phase does not exceed 1,200 calories. Dieters are told to expect to lose between two and three pounds per week. During the program, participants are medically supervised and an customized exercise program is also recommended.

While the Optifast diet has generated a fair amount of positive feedback, there are a number of criticisms of the program as well. Firstly, it's quite expensive -- the initial workup can cost around $600 and dieters might spend around $200 per week on meal replacement shakes. Furthermore, 800 calories a day is far below the recommended daily intake suggested by the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- even if you're trying to lose weight. What's more, it's advised that dieters aim to lose only one to two pounds a week -- any more is considered rapid weight loss and can be harmful to the body. Finally, the weight loss is often not maintained because dieters aren't taught how to control their food intake.

My son often comes home with stories about kids teasing him or kids picking on another child during the school day. It was true when I was in school and it's still true today ... kids can be cruel. So I can only imagine how difficult life might be for a child or teenager who's morbidly obese. In addition to obvious health complications it creates, their self-esteem and social life are at risk as well.

Lifestyle habits are difficult to change. If losing weight was easy, then who would be overweight? It takes enormous commitment and a willingness to shake things up and substitute bad habits with healthier behaviors. The Wellspring Academy in a remote area of North Carolina seeks to help students (age 11 or older) lose weight and learn to live healthfully.

Students must be at least 30 pounds overweight to be accepted to the school which has a maximum enrollment of 50 students. One month's tuition costs $6,250; the required minimum length of stay is four months making the minimum investment $25,000. Participants undergo extensive behavior therapy and rapid weight loss. According to Wellspring's president, the average weight loss for students who stay for eight months is 81 pounds. He also states that the first class of 15 students maintained their weight loss for 10 months.

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When it comes to losing weight, using a quick-fix method like a diet pill seems almost too good to be true. Usually it is, but the weight loss supplement industry is worth millions, so there must be something to it, some sort of science behind the claims that these pills can help you lose the pounds for good .... at least I hope there is. Luckily eDiets is here to save the day -- they've busted common 'diet pill' mistakes in this article. Their final say? There's no such thing as a quick-fix -- weight loss involved hard work. Sorry folks, I know it's disappointing news.

What's your take on diet pills?

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