Overview

WeightWatchers is one of the most popular and successful diet plans, helping millions of people around the world lose weight with the support of small groups that meet weekly for weigh-ins, diet support, and tips.

The WeightWatchers program has evolved over the years, but the main idea is still to consume fewer calories than you expend. Most are familiar with the Weight Watchers POINTS system which is a simple method to track calorie consumption without tedious counting for each meal. The number of POINTS allowed each day is determined by your gender, weight, height, age and how you spend your days — and because low-fat, high-fiber foods have the fewest POINTS values, the system encourages such foods by default.

A recent addition to the WeightWatchers program is the no-counting Core Plan in which you select foods from a detailed list. You also have the option to skip the in-person meetings in favor of using an online program. In the Core Plan, you choose from a list of fiber-rich, low-cal foods, but can also go ‘off-list’ for occasional indulgences like dessert. Both plans essentially follow a low-calorie, high-fiber diet.

Pros

• Established diet plan proven to be successful with millions of testimonials
• Online diet support is now an option
• Eating out is easy using either the POINTS system or the Core Plan

Cons

• Online support groups may not be as motivational as in-person meetings

Conclusion

The WeightWatchers philosophy is a lifestyle change that will help you lose weight – and learn to keep it off for the rest of your life. The program is relatively simple and many dieters enjoy the support the classes offer, but the online program is also good.

Next Steps