The New Generation of Weight Loss Spas

At the Deerfield Spa in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Lang saw an intimate, unpretentious facility with a high level of repeat customers. "The women I spoke with had weight loss goals that they had battled for awhile, and felt they got extremely valuable help with eating, nutrition in general, and fitness goals. Most classes had both a beginner to intermediate level, and there were mostly two to choose from during each time slot."

Read more comparisons of wellness and weight loss spas PeterGreenberg.com.

And Lang found similar experiences at other spas. At Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas, she saw fewer classes and other amenities, but greater personal attention to each client. At larger wellness spas like Canyon Ranch Tucson, what is offered is an entirely different, yet still modern, experience that caters to more extroverted personalities. That's when Lang realized how important it is to assess what type of place you want before you go. If you are already an avid exerciser, will a smaller place with fewer classes be too easy? Would you prefer a bigger place where you can melt away into the crowd if you want?

For those who prefer a more rounded-out experience where the focus really is on behavioral and lifestyle changes, Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in Miami is one of the most famous facilities. You'll find a huge amount of health and wellness options, beginning with a full medical analysis. In addition to personalized medial evaluation and exercise classes, nutritionists also teach guests everything from learning what to order when going out to restaurants to how to read labels in the supermarket.

Watch Dr. Oz's lesson in how to read a food label.