If a trick to easy weight loss existed, surely scientists would have discovered it by now. Weight Watchers focuses on the simple principles of watching what you eat and doing some form of physical activity. As a member, you have a variety of methods to participate in the plan, so no matter how hectic life becomes, you can find the support you need.
History
In the 1960s, Jean Nidetch founded Weight Watchers when she and her friends held weekly weight loss discussions in her New York home. Weight Watchers uses the premises of support, knowledge, motivation and helpful tools to enable members to make better diet and exercise choices.
Geography and Size
According to a July 2010 press release, Weight Watchers holds approximately 50,000 weekly meetings in countries throughout the world. What began as a local enterprise in a New York City borough is now one of the largest internationally recognized authorities in successful weight loss.
Expert Insight
Weight Watchers maintains an international scientific advisory board of physicians, nutritionists, research scientists, psychologists and endocrinologists who have developed the core weight loss plan, and invigorate the plan with changes as new scientific information becomes available.
As recently as October 2010, Weight Watchers and Merck have teamed up to provide physicians with information on the Weight Watchers plan in order to assist patients with weight loss goals and maintenance, as reported in the "Wall Street Journal."
Plan
At its core, Weight Watcher functions as a calorie-counting plan, but instead assigns "points" to foods based on your current weight. As you consume food throughout the day, you track the food points. Weight Watchers makes no restrictions on what foods you eat, so if you want three candy bars for lunch, you can eat them, but you might burn through your daily points in one meal. As you lose weight, the daily allocation of points decreases proportionately. When you reach your goal weight, the points increase slightly to halt the weight loss.
Tools
When you join a Weight Watchers group, you receive support through many of the licensed company products. Pedometers, food scales, points calculators, food trackers and cookbooks make staying on the program easier and more fun. In addition, you may attend meetings in a Weight Watchers center, at your work or use the online program. For people without access to the Internet or transportation, Weight Watchers has a plan available by mail. The company also publishes a monthly magazine filled with recipes, encouraging success stories, fitness routines and helpful insight to the plan.
Benefits
Weight Watchers members enjoy one of the highest rates of reported success in losing weight and maintaining the loss. Members who stay within 2 pounds of the recommended body weight mass index may apply for positions within the organization.
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