Lifestyle programs can provide a helpful structure for your health journey when you feel out of control with unhealthy habits. In particular, they can be especially useful in helping you achieve your weight goals. Programs are a great way to join individuals going on the same journey, which can be incredibly motivating.
Everyone is different, and there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a lifestyle program. It ultimately depends on what suits your individual needs and what fits into your lifestyle. Many people find online weight management programs more convenient and easier to fit into daily life.
This guide compares two popular digital programs; Bellabeat and Second Nature. Both programs focus on a holistic approach to weight management.
Second Nature is an easy-to-follow program that helps you change your lifestyle, and achieve your weight goals sustainably, with scientific articles, in-app tracking, and dedicated support from a qualified coach with nutrition expertise.
The main difference between the programs is that with Second Nature you will have a digital peer support group and daily access to a coach to support you throughout the program.
Bellabeat’s program, however, is self-guided. They offer a women’s wellness program that is personalised based on your goals, lifestyle and natural cycle. There is no community support or access to a coach or mentor.
Ratings and reviews
Bellabeat and Second Nature both deliver their program via an app. This enables you to have nutrition advice in your pocket, helping you stay on track.
We’ve looked at reviews from the Apple App Store to see how customer satisfaction compares across each program.
| Bellabeat | Second Nature | |
| Star rating |  |
 |
| Score | 4.3 / 5 read reviews |
4.8 / 5 read reviews |
Signing up
| Bellabeat | Second Nature | |
| Money back guarantee | Money back guarantee within the first 30 days. No refunds or credits for partial months. | Full refund if cancelled within 14 days. After this point, any charges non-refundable. |
| Clear breakdown of costs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Clear cancellation policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Length of program | Length varies depending on your personal goals | Ongoing subscription (minimum 12 weeks) |
| Easy to cancel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refer-a-friend scheme | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy to include family | ✗ | ✓ |
Nutrition
| Bellabeat | Second Nature | |
| Dietary approach | Low calorie, syncs with your menstrual cycle | Lower carb |
| Caters to vegetarian | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vegetarian/vegan recipe section | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supplements encouraged | ✓ (dependent on the user) |
✗ (other than vitamin D) |
Support
| Bellabeat | Second Nature | |
| Tailors the plan around diabetes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tailors the plan around other health issues | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to a qualified nutrition specialist | ✗ | ✓* |
| Weekend support available | ✗ | ✓ |
| Phone support available | ✗ | ✓ |
| Face-to-face meetings | ✗ | ✗ |
*Second Nature coaches are all UK registered dietitians or nutritionists. This means they have completed university accredited degrees to gain this professional title. However, coaches are not registered in the US, so don’t meet the regulatory requirements to be considered US registered dietitians or nutritionists.
Program features
| Bellabeat | Second Nature | |
| App | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exercise videos | ✓ | ✓ |
| Encourages daily weigh-ins | ✗ | ✗ |
| Makes you take numerous body measurements | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tracks sleep | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks steps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks exercise | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks water intake | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks custom habits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education of nutrition science | ✓ | ✓ |
| Requires calorie counting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Food diary feature | ✗ | ✓ |
| Meal planning tool | ✗ (Meal plan provided, not customisable) |
✓ |
| In-app journalling tool | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing
When programs provide price plans in different formats, it can be hard to accurately compare prices. To make this easier, we have calculated the price of monthly basic price plans on each program to show you how costs compare over (as of December 2020).
At first glance, Second Nature looks to be more expensive than Bellabeat. However, on the Second Nature program you get access to a qualified coach with an expertise in nutrition and wellness as well as a digital peer support group who accompany you throughout the program. The Bellabeat program is self-guided with no community support or access to a coach or a mentor.
Another option to get support with your diet would be to have private sessions with a registered dietitian. Weekly face-to-face sessions with a registered dietitian can be very expensive ($70-$100). We have added a column representing this to compare costs, labelled weekly registered dietitian (WRD).
Monthly digital subscriptions:
| Bellabeat | Second Nature | WRD | |
| Registered dietitian or nutritionist coach | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The same, personal coach throughout the program | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | $49.99 / month* | $60 / month | $350 / month |
Take home message
- When choosing a weight management program, it’s important to consider what support you need and what would fit into your lifestyle to help you achieve your goals
- Both programs are digital and app-based
- Second Nature includes access to a peer support group and a coach with expertise in nutrition and lifestyle change
- Bellabeat is a self-guided program with no option to have coaching or support
- Both programs provide you with education, nutrition guidance, and mindfulness exercises to help you reach your goals
- Second Nature offers phone support options, whereas Bellabeat’s customer service is all online
