As hordes of Americans resolve to be healthier in 2019, many companies stand ready to help. Unfortunately, not all dietary plans are created equal. One relatively new entry to the market, Health Management Resources (HMR), seeks to deliver a one-stop solution to dieters who want to lose weight quickly. What does it offer, and how does it stack up against the keto diet?

Quick-fix HMR falls short of the sustainability of keto

According to its website, HMR “is an intensive weight-loss and lifestyle-change program designed to help you lose weight fast and build healthier routines that last.”¹ The key part of this phrase is “lose weight fast.” HMR is a meal-delivery system. The company tells its clients precisely what to eat, sells them entrees and meal-replacement shakes, then delivers all these meals to their door. The diet consists of two phases. In the first phase, clients must eat only entrees and shakes provided by the company; HMR also prescribes fresh fruits and vegetables, but these must be purchased separately by the individual. In the second phase, clients are allowed to add in small amounts of select foods alongside the purchased entrees and shakes. HMR’s goal is to get its clients to lose weight as quickly as possible by significantly reducing their caloric intake through eating only the prescribed foods. They do not teach clients healthy eating habits or help them understand the science behind healthy eating.

Contrast this with keto, which is based on a scientific understanding of how the human body operates. Proponents of the keto diet want dieters to understand some basic scientific principles so they can lose weight and keep it off. At its core, keto relies on macros, which requires a full understanding of how the body turns food into energy. Unlike HMR, keto is not just about how much you eat—it’s far more about eating the right amount of the right things.

Keto provides greater flexibility to match any budget

HMR currently prices its Quick Start Kit at $179 for a three-week supply of food. This cost includes meal replacement shakes and entrees but does not include required fruits and vegetables, which must be purchased separately. After the first three-week kit, the “fine print” kicks in. HMR automatically enrolls clients in an auto-delivery plan, charging them $185 every two weeks for just two weeks of food.² This means that an average month of the HMR diet for only one person costs $370 PLUS the cost of fresh produce.

Contrast this with keto, whose practitioners are free to eat virtually whatever they want—as long as they stay within their macros. Keto can be followed while on a budget, meaning its entry point much more accessible and making it far more sustainable as a lifestyle. Few people can sustain the amount of money required to maintain HMR’s diet, virtually ensuring its unsustainability.

What should I do?

Our advice: spend a lot of time researching and understanding what goes into healthy eating and a sustainable, healthy lifestyle before selecting a diet plan. However, unless you’re looking for an expensive, crash-course, unsustainable diet, then skip HMR.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD

This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD.

Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.

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Drew Dabbs

Drew is an avid writer with an interest in politics, economics, and philosophy. When he isn't capturing his thoughts on the keyboard, he's probably hanging out with his wife and son.

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