Nowadays, one could argue it’s harder than ever to stay in shape. An increasingly sedentary lifestyle, more and more processed foods in our diet and a growing mountain of responsibilities all contribute to the problem, the result of which is seen in the country’s growing obesity rate. Luckily, there are programs out there that offer guidance and time-tested methods to losing weight. One of them is Jenny Craig.

Yes, you’ve probably seen the newly-trim Kirstie Alley as the current face of Jenny Craig, but the truth is the program has been around since 1983, when it was started in Melbourne, Australia by weight-loss industry experts Sid and Jenny Craig. Two years later, the couple ventured into the United States with two more weight loss centers. Fast-forward to today and there are almost 650 Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centers worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.

In Michigan there are 15 Jenny Craig locations, including one on Lansing’s south side. Since 1992, that location has aided women in the Lansing area with their weight loss goals. Jenny Craig spokesperson Gail Manginelli says the company’s philosophy is comprehensive. “(It’s a) food/body/mind approach to weight management,” she explained. “Consultants provide clients with one-on-one support, tips and motivation.” Manginelli stated the program has helped millions of people worldwide in their weight loss journey. “It’s truly a personalized approach to encourage successful long-term weight management.”

Long-term may be the operative word here. Since Jenny Craig’s inception in 1983, a lot of things have changed about the weight loss industry. We’ve been through the low-fat craze, the low-carb and the no-carb. We’ve been called upon to “Stop the Insanity” and we’ve even had to “Sweat to the Oldies”. But through it all, the obesity rate has been climbing, at an “alarming” rate, according to the American Obesity Association. Of course it’s not attributable to any one thing; the AOA points to a number of environmental and behavioral factors like an increase in car ownership to more economic prosperity in developing countries.

Whatever the reasons may be, not arguable are the number of health problems that can arise, everything from heart disease to diabetes. Even scarier is the increase in health problems among overweight children, including childhood-onset diabetes and even new cases of children with badly clogged arteries, indicating early signs of heart disease.

Through the unfortunate medical trends though, solid and reliable sources of weight management have flourished. Jenny Craig is one of the stalwarts that has stayed strong through the flurry of fads. Manginelli said it’s because the company’s philosophy is about helping clients develop a healthy relationship with food. “We’ve seen numerous fad diets and quick fix methods come and go,” she says. “There will always be a demand for a safe, comprehensive program such as ours that teaches clients how to make long-term lifestyle changes.”

These lifestyle changes don’t come without a price though. The one-on-one consulting, Jenny’s Cuisine food choices and other program perks involve fees. But the growth rate of the company during the last two decades and its global positioning certainly shows that something about Jenny Craig works for clients. The success definitely transcends dollar signs. “Some clients have 10 pounds to lose while other may need to lose more than 100,” Manginelli says. “Each time we help someone be able to be more active with their children or grandchildren, look fabulous for a family or school reunion, decrease or eliminate the amount of weight-related medications they need to take … it makes our jobs memorable.”