A program that has a balance of excercise and diet (eating right, not small), that you can follow through on long-term, is the best approach IMO.

Diets, like Atkins or Weight Watchers, will work, but you are very likely to fall back into old eating habits and regain weight, which can be worse than losing the weight originally.

Anyone who undertakes a serious weight-loss program should probably do so under a doctors supervision and advice.

Also being comfortable and confident in yourself as a person, independent of your appearance, can go a long way toward your weight-loss success.