For example, the company recently announced its new TurnAround program, which offers two approaches to shedding pounds. The first, the Flex Plan, uses the existing weight-loss system in which dieters count Points. The new addition, called the Core Plan, controls calories by focusing on a basic list of foods without counting or tracking. Also new is Weight Watchers On-the-Go, software that lets WeightWatchers.com subscribers track Points and other diet details on their own Palm OS-based digital assistants.
Tell people that no food is off-limits and add the camaraderie of other dieters, and it's easy to see why Weight Watchers is so successful. Even counting Points, once you get the hang of it, is pretty much a no-brainer. Sure, there may be other ways to lose weight without plunking down so much money, but the plan does seem to work.
Basic principles:
No fads or quick weight-loss schemes here. Weight Watchers takes a sane approach to dieting. The philosophy, in a nutshell, is that physical activity, combined with healthy eating habits, can promote weight loss. It's also the same approach that can keep weight off. Dieters may attend local meetings or sign up for an online program.
How the diet works:
On the Flex Plan, you receive a daily Points budget based solely on your current weight (gender and age don't fit into the equation). You also receive "flexible" bonus Points to use throughout the week. These can be spent on any food, but the system naturally steers dieters toward high-fiber, low-fat choices since these foods have the lowest Points values. The Core Plan provides a list of foods with a low number of calories per a given volume, but you can also go off the list for occasional treats like a chocolate bar for dessert. In both cases, the diet is essentially a low-calorie, high-fiber eating plan.
What you can eat:
Everything, within limits. From White Castle burgers to broccoli to candy corn, you choose what you want within well-delineated guidelines.
Does the diet take and keep weight off?
Yes. A study published in the April 2003 Journal of the American Medical Association found that dieters randomly assigned to the program lost three times as much weight as those who used a do-it-yourself approach. Though supported by Weight Watchers, the 2-year study was conducted at six different independent research centers around the country. In addition, a company tracking study has found that dieters who attend meetings for 10 weeks lose an average of 11 pounds.
Is the diet healthy?
Yes. Provided you spend your Points wisely, the plan is well-balanced. A stellar medical advisory board, with some real heavy hitters from the diet and exercise arenas, keeps the company on the cutting edge of weight-loss research. And the headquarters staff-the people who develop diet strategies-includes registered dietitians and scientists.
What do the experts say?
"Of all the diet programs out there, this one is probably the best," says John Foreyt, PhD, a recognized expert in the field of obesity and weight control and a professor at Baylor College of Medicine. "The group support the program provides is one of their strongest features." Without that support, many people have trouble sticking with a diet, Foreyt says. Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RD, a professor at Georgia State University, likes the fact that dieters learn how to set realistic weight-loss goals and that they can choose from a huge variety of foods with assigned Points values. "The downside is that the Points system can be abused," she says. "Someone could potentially spend a whole day's Points on ice cream or junk food." That's not what the plan encourages, of course, but you do have the freedom to choose the foods you like.
Who should consider the diet?
Loner types won't be keen on the group environment. And people with a lot of weight to lose (100 or more pounds) could be easily discouraged by the slow-and-steady approach. Still, what other weight-loss plan lets you have Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Dairy Queen shakes-and works?
Bottom line:
This is probably the best plan on the block. Weight Watchers' real unsung heroes are the team leaders who direct meetings. They hold the program together, and their encouragement prods dieters to success. Find a good leader and the weight will come off.
