Commercial diets got a thumbs up in a study realed by the British Medical Journal this week.

The study tested the Slim-Fast Plan, Weight Watchers, the Atkins new diet revolution and Rosemary Conley's eat yourself slim diet and fitness plan against a control group which was asked to maintain its current diet and exercise plan.

After six months, all the diets resulted in significant weight loss. The Atkins group lost more in the first few weeks, but the totals evened out in the end. After a year, over 45 percent of the commercial dieters were keeping to their plan, but there were more dropouts in the unsupported Atkins and Slim-Fast groups.

The bottom line, researchers found, was that commercial diets can help you lose weight. You can read the full study at BMJ.com.

To me, the real value in the study was showing how having a support system can make a difference in your dieting success. Even if you don't belong to a group such as Weight Watchers, you should still try to have at least one diet buddy.

For instance, when I need a diet pick-me-up, I call my friend Sherry. She will tell me to step away from the chocolate when I'm on the verge of a chocolate binge. And she cheers for me when I have success. And I do the same for her.

After all, isn't support what friendship is all about?

-- Amanda Barrett