Weight Watchers is one of the oldest and most successful weight-loss programs in the world, holding 50,000 weekly meetings and helping 1.3 million members lose weight. Although the rules and recipes have changed through the years, a version of the popular quick-loss start to the program has been part of Weight Watchers for decades. If you follow the quick-loss plan successfully, it should motivate you to make lifestyle changes to lose weight and keep it off permanently.
Identification
Weight Watchers was founded in 1963 and as of 2010 had programs in 30 countries. The core philosophy of Weight Watchers is that you aren't told what to eat and there aren't any special foods you have to purchase. The quick loss program, which has been called Jump Start, Kick Start and Quick Start, is a two-week regimen you begin with that is more restricted in calories. It's designed to help you drop several pounds quickly before easing into the regular program.
Features
The current Weight Watchers plan uses a proprietary Points formula that gives every food a value based on a complex algorithm using the combination of protein, fiber, carbs and fat. The amount of Points you're allowed daily depend upon your height, weight and age. You're also given additional activity and optional Points per week. No food is forbidden, although you're encouraged to make healthy food choices. The quick loss period generally uses the same rules as the main program, except that the amount of Points you're allowed amounts to approximately 1,000 to 1,200 calories daily for the first two weeks.
Benefits
As with many quick-loss weight programs, any initial drop on the scale on a reduced-calorie diet is often due to water loss. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, even a small weight loss will help you lower your risk of developing weight-related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Seeing rapid results can also be psychologically important, helping to motivate you to stick with the program.
Expert Insight
Researchers at MCP Hahnemann University's Department of Clinical and Health Psychology studied the effects of the Weight Watchers quick loss program on weight, behavior and mood. Their results, published in January 1999 in "Obesity Research," found that Weight Watchers participants showed greater improvements than a control group on weight losses, which averaged 4.1 pounds versus 1.7 pounds for the controls, and also on measures of vitality and eating behavior.
References
- Weight Watchers
- PubMed: An initial evaluation of a commercial weight loss program: short-term effects on weight, eating behavior, and mood.
- Best Diet for Me: Weight Watchers
- National Intitutes of Health: Facts About Healthy Weight
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghoue: Insulin Resistance and Pre-diabetes
Member Comments