Today it seems as if everybody has a Web site. Turn on the television, listen to the radio or look at a billboard and you will see that even the smallest of companies have a dot com in their ad. So, it should come as no surprise that even the trends in dieting have turned to the world of the Web to help people lose weight. Advice, meal plans, calorie counts, recipes and support are just a few of the things that dieters can find in their quest to take off extra weight. The "big" names are there -- Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Slim-Fast and NutriSystem -- and the up and coming ones are there, too. You only need to look as far as the dot com to find a place that is right for you to begin losing it online.

Finding Support
Ask any doctor, dietitian or weight loss consultant what one of the most important factors of losing weight is and they will tell you "support." If a person attempts to lose weight and their family is not supportive, their success may be limited to only a few days. However, finding the support you need is not always an easy task. There are meetings and groups that offer support, but people who do not feel comfortable with their weight or appearance oftentimes have difficulty attending these groups. Enter the world of the Web. With online support there are no face-to-face meetings. The support is offered in online chat groups, bulletin boards and private e-mails. For those who are not comfortable or may be embarrassed with their appearance, or even who just do not have the time to make the in-person groups, these options are perfect.

According to Susan Burke, a certified dietitian and weight loss consultant for ediets.com, it's oftentimes much easier for people to discuss their weight problems online as the fear of judgment, ridicule and sarcasm is reduced. "People tend to open up a lot on the message boards and chat rooms," says Burke. "When people attend the traditional meeting and groups, they are kind of hesitant about speaking out on what their problem is -- whether it's eating due to stress, comfort or having a food addiction. Online, these same people will open up and tell about themselves, how much they need to lose, their problems with losing weight or even how they gained the weight to begin with. They are real open and honest because they don't have to look at other people, which may be hard to do when you don't like yourself or what you look like."

"About a year and a half ago I realized that I had gained too much weight after having my second child," says Heather Creech, a stay-at-home mom from Branson, Mo. "I am not the type of person who attends meetings or support groups and definitely not for weight loss. I would much rather do research at home and find something that will work for me. I initially visited Slim-Fast's Web site for support and tips on how to begin my weight loss program and then found iParenting.com."

There are other benefits to online support for weight loss as well. In addition to animosity or privacy, the attention offered through the online weight loss sites is more individualized. The messages received are for one person and relate to their weight loss problems, setbacks and goals. Most weight loss centers print out thousands of pamphlets, leaflets, meal plans and such at a time where the online support and plans are tailored to what is needed by each person -- individually.

"People take from the online groups what they need and more," says Burke. "With traditional weight loss groups, the programs are designed for everybody or anybody who wants to join. In the online groups, the advice and diet plans are made for each individual, sometimes after filling out a questionnaire about what they want and need from a weight loss plan. It's not a 'one size fits all' type of thing -- it's based on the individual."

Other advantages of online weight loss sources include cost, availability, access and time.

Support for Free
The cost of many of the online sources for weight loss is free. Sites such as iParenting.com, e-diets, dietsmart.com, and 3fatchicks.com do not have a charge for using their online diet or weight loss support. Although some do require a registration -- which consists of only name, email address, city and state of residence -- visitors are able to post messages, speak in chat rooms and communicate with each other as often as they want or need. The programs that offer individualized meal plans, home shipments of meals or materials, dietitian consultation and physician advisement do require a fee. However, the fee is usually nominal and can be paid with credit card or check debit using their secure payment process. Fees for online programs are no more expensive then those offered through traditional weight loss centers and the benefits of the program are the same.

Advantages of Losing Online
Availability of online diet and weight loss support is simple. If you have a computer, or access to one, then you have access to some of the best weight loss support there is to offer. Web addresses are available for various programs by calling the location nearest you or even by performing your own research over the Internet. Typing in "weight loss support" in any of the hundreds of search engines will merit a wide variety of sites to choose from.

One of the best advantages of online weight loss support is access. With traditional meetings or groups it can be very difficult to get the support you need, when you need it. For example, when the midnight munchies hit, when stressed about your teen not being home by curfew, or when the furnace breaks down on a Sunday and you want to cope with the situation by eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's, there may not be a meeting time scheduled. But, to get the support you need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, turn to online weight loss support groups. There is no limitation on the times or days that the sites are available. Support when you need it -- just get online.

The time needed to participate in the online weight loss support depends upon the individual. If you need lots of support then you may want to spend more time online, reading and posting messages, reading online weight loss diaries or chatting with others. However, if you only want or need support once in a while, then you will not be spending a lot of time on the site. As much or as little as you need to help obtain your goal, that's all that is required. In addition, signing onto the computer, reading and posting messages or chatting with someone, takes less time then it would to drive to a meeting, weigh-in, find a seat, sit through the meeting, say good-bye and thank you to all and drive home.

Who Are You Chatting With?
So where does the support come from for these online groups? The people who support those wanting to lose weight are physicians, nutritionists, weight loss consultants and most importantly, others who have lost weight or are trying to lose weight as well. The support is real, from real people who may have struggled with their weight or perhaps, still are. These people understand how it feels to be overweight, how it feels to want that extra piece of chocolate cake or how it feels to not have the energy to exercise that day. They are there to let other know that they are not alone.

Ivy Ross, a mother of four from Richmond, Va., says the support she receives at the dietsmart.com site has helped her not only to lose weight, but to know that the problems she has with food are not solely her own. "I eat for comfort," says Ross. "I have always thought that I was the only one who did this. When I joined the dietsmart.com site I found an article that showed me that I wasn't the only one. Then, when I started posting messages and reading other entries, I met people -- people just like me."

"I initially began writing the [weight loss] journal on Recipes Today at iParenting.com because I wanted to be able to inspire the women that read it," says Creech. "I was hoping that I could encourage them this way, to reach their goal. I also wanted people to be able to relate to me. I hold nothing back when writing my entries and I will be perfectly honest in them. Maybe I had a whole bag of Oreos that day just because I wanted to! It's about time Web sites had diaries and journals -- kept by women -- who are willing to give up a little privacy just so someone can say, 'Hey! I'm not the only one who does that!' I think it gives them hope, helps them keep going, and helps them not give up the fight."

Today's world is full of online trading, reservations, garage sales and even home sales. Why not take advantage of what technology has offered and use the Internet for something important and personal -- losing weight. Finding a person halfway across the country -- or the world -- who has a common weight loss goal may be just what is needed to help in your quest to lose weight.