82%

of people who tried this diet like it

Tried it? Rate it!

out of 100
based on 390 reviews

Weight Watchers

A trusted approach to weight loss for more than 40 years.

QUICK FACTS Start the Diet Now Advertisement

Spring Offer! Save Over 30% on Weight Watchers Online

Established: 1963
Founder: Jean Nidetch
Headquarters: New York City
Stock Symbol: WTW
Accessibility: Meetings, Online, Books, Apps
Diet Type: Low-Calorie, Low-Fat
Gender: Male and Female
Celebrity Endorsements: Jennifer Hudson
Corporate Site: WeightWatchers.com
Get started by saving with these Weight Watchers Coupons

BACKGROUND

It's been nearly 50 years since Weight Watchers came on the scene and started helping people live healthier lives. Weight Watchers helps members create a foundation to introduce healthier choices and physical activity into their lives. Weight Watchers was made popular by the weekly meetings that are still a cornerstone of the program today.

In 2010 Weight Watchers introduced the PointsPlus program. The values take into account carbs, in addition to the fat, fiber and calories found in a food. The PointsPlus program encourages you to make smarter choices by selecting more nutrient-dense foods, giving your body better nutrition and helping you feel sated. The PointsPlus program also features Power Foods, which are specific foods that are not just healthy, but also help to keep you feeling satisfied.

The Weight Watchers PointsPlus program allows you to eat the foods you like without restriction. Simply stay within your daily range and you can still enjoy the foods you love balanced with nutritious choices like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Unlike many diets, Weight Watchers also encourages an active lifestyle.

It all started in a living room, where women would gather to support one another while losing weight. Then it grew, and became one of the most recognized names in weight loss. They've remained an innovative brand, taking the plan online, and creating a program specifically for men.

Weight Watchers Meetings The original Weight Watchers plan invites members to weekly meetings where they help dieters form a network of support with people sharing similar experiences. Each person checks their weight privately. Meetings are conducted by a trained Meeting Leader who motivates and offers the group support through information about nutrition and fitness.

Weight Watchers Online For those whose schedules won't accommodate a weekly meeting, or prefer the anonymity the Internet offers, Weight Watchers Online makes it possible to reap the benefits of the program from the comfort of your own home. Online subscribers can communicate via message boards, monitor progress, manage PointsPlus values, access hundreds of approved recipes and so much more.

Weight Watchers Online for Men This program is tailored to the needs of men seeking an effective approach to weight loss, without the female undertones. The same PointsPlus program is used, but recipes, videos, articles, and guidance speaks your language.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus The first update to the program in 13 years. The Weight Watchers PointsPlus program replaced the Momentum program in late 2010. The PointsPlus program combines the latest nutritional science with the proven Weight Watchers approach to develop an effective system for making healthy, satisfying choices. All this gives you an edge that can help you reach your weight loss goals.

Weight Watchers at Work The Weight Watchers At Work program wants to make your workplace healthier by offering you and your company all of the success of the Weight Watchers program right from your own office.

Weight Watchers Monthly Pass The Weight Watchers Monthly Pass gives you the convenience of using your pass at monthly meetings or eTools online. The Monthly Pass is not a different diet plan, but rather another way to follow Weight Watchers.

DietsInReview.com is an advertising partner of Weight Watchers. This review is strictly our opinion.

PRO

Programs to suit adult men and women
Choose counseling via meetings or privacy and convenience online
Online program is a comprehensive experience
Provides exercise guidance
Thousands of recipes and meals to choose from
Applebee's partnership for more healthful dining
PointsPlus makes it simple to assess nutritional value of food
Named #1 in the Best Commercial Diets by US News, 2011
Reputable and effective for more than 40 years
Free Weight Watchers Mobile iPhone App

CON

Counting PointsPlus values may be time consuming
Online detracts from the traditional social aspect of meetings
Weight Watchers Online for Men is only available online, not in meetings
Not a structured plan which may be difficult for some to adhere to
Not a strong emphasis on fitness

USER REVIEWS

A sampling of feedback and experiences shared by our community.

Most realistic program to maintain long term ... may take longer to lose the weight but it stays off! - Carmelle 8/16/11

I lost close to 40 pounds on Weight Watchers and have kept it off ever since starting almost 10 months ago. I plan to be on this program forever. I'm the healthiest I've ever been. (I'm 26 and am thinner and a smaller size than I was in high school, which I NEVER thought was possible!!) WW WORKS! I have never felt deprived, and I feel like the program is something I can live with. It's literally one of the best things I've EVER done for myself. - Marjie 7/8/11

I've been following the new Points Plus program since the beginning of the year. Today I hit the 10% weight loss goal. Only one week I did not loose weight - but I didn't gain either. Love that the fresh fruits are free so when I just want something - I now reach for fruit rather than chips or cookies. I am a 30 year lifetime member (obviously strayed at times) and find that this is the easiest weight loss for me (and I'm now 59.5 years old). HIGHLY recommend the new Points Plus. The key is still planning and journaling as far as I'm concerned. - Char 4/1/11

The old WW worked. The new one does not. I am one of many lifetime members who have become very disenchanted by this new program. - Elle 6/21/11

I highly suggest playing around with the tools. Eventually most "0 point" foods will develop a point value if you put in a high quantity...especially fruits and starchy veggies like green beans and broccoli. If you eat what the healthy check recommends, drink the water the healthy check recommends and eat your points in proteins and a small amount of carbs and fats then you should not gain weight. It's about eating in moderation. Not going crazy just because you think you can. - Shannon 3/6/11

Leave your own review and rating

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTSPLUS

The Weight Watchers PointsPlus program replaced the Momentum program in late 2010. The PointsPlus program combines the latest nutritional science with the proven Weight Watchers approach to develop an effective system for making healthy, satisfying choices. All this gives you an edge that can help you reach your weight loss goals.

With Weight Watchers, every food has a PointsPlus value, which takes into account a food's protein, calories, fat, and fiber. The PointsPlus program also features Power Foods, select foods that have exceptional nutritional value and satiating power. As a Weight Watchers member, you'll get a daily personalized PointsPlus Target, so you know how much to eat to lose weight safely while feeling satisfied.

The PointsPlus program encourages you to not eat less, but instead to eat smarter and with more satisfaction.

Learn more about the Weight Watchers PointsPlus Weight Watchers PointsPlus program here.

DIET and NUTRITION

Weight Watchers emphasizes eating more wholesome food, while allowing you to splurge on cravings in moderation. You'll use your PointsPlus values to make balanced food choices that include whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, eggs and dairy. No matter which plan you choose, you'll have access to all of the Weight Watchers recipes that are delicious, satisfying and good-for-you.

Weight Watchers members can enjoy chili, muffins, brownies, burgers, pizza, pasta and so much more - especially when you follow their healthy tips for lightening the recipes and keeping within your PointsPlus values target.

The PointsPlus program encourages you to make more nutrient-dense food choices, which not only helps you lose weight but also helps keep you feeling satisfied.

The Weight Watchers website features thousands of recipes for all occasions. If you're a Weight Watchers Online or Weight Watchers eTools subscriber, you can use the PointsPlus calculator tool to find the PointsPlus values of restaurant foods. Weight Watchers Meetings Members can also use the A-Z food list found in the Pocket Guide, or purchase the Complete Food Companion and the Dining Out Companion to help them plan for their night out.

The PointsPlus program is designed so that you can stick with it long-term. Whether you do the program online or attend meetings, there are several ideas for snacks and meals along with a list of power foods. PointsPlus values for foods are calculated using the fat, protein, dietary fiber and carbohydrates from the nutrition label. Healthier foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and other foods from the power foods list, have much lower PointsPlus values than foods that are heavily processed or high in fat. The program is designed to teach you how to make smarter food choices so that you eat more filling and nutritious meals.

For example, Weight Watchers features two side by side meals that both have a PointsPlus value of 11. The two meals are reflected below:

Meal 1 – Peanut butter and jelly sandwich made on reduced- calorie white bread; chips
Meal 2 – Black bean soup; Whole grain wheat pasta with grape tomatoes, small black olives, crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, shredded basil leaves, olive oil and red wine vinegar; grapes

Just glancing at these two meals it would be hard to think they have the same value because meal two offers more food. Illustrations like this make it easy to see the importance of making healthier choices so that you can eat more while getting good nutrition throughout the day.

EXERCISE

Weight Watchers does promote living an active lifestyle, although exercise is not a requirement of the program.

Weight Watchers Online and Weight Watchers Online for Men do provide workout demonstrations and provides guidance for all skill levels.

Weight Watchers gives you additional PointsPlus to spend during the day depending on the duration and intensity of your exercise. You can choose to use your additional PointsPlus gained from exercise or not. If you do use them, they must be used in the same day that you complete the exercise. To calculate the intensity of your workout, you can use your heart beats per minute or some simple physical cues. If you choose to follow the heart beats per minute, the classifications are as follows:

Low intensity: 68 to 92 beats per minute
Moderate intensity: 93 to 118 beats per minute
High intensity: more than 119 beats per minute

Using the physical cues for your activity level follows the rating of perceived exertion or RPE. This is what Weight Watchers uses. This method is easier than monitoring your heart rate while working out. The below chart can be used to help you gauge the intensity of your workout:

Light intensity – Fairly easy exercise that does not induce sweating unless it’s a hot, humid day. There is no noticeable change in breathing patterns.
Moderate intensity – Somewhat hard exercise that will break a sweat after performing the activity for about 10 minutes. Breathing becomes deeper and more frequent. You can carry on a conversation but not sing.
High intensity – Hard exercise that will cause you to break a sweat after three to five minutes. Breathing is deep and rapid. You can only talk in short phrases.

Keep in mind that those who are just starting to exercise, or those that have been inactive for a long period of time tend to overestimate their intensity levels. If you are just starting out it may be more accurate to gauge your intensity through your heart beats until you get an accurate understanding of actual intensity levels. With Weight Watchers you can choose to do any form of exercise that meets your needs. Some recommended forms of exercise available are:

Yoga
Pilates
Walking
Jogging
Aerobics
Swimming
Hiking
Bike riding
Kickboxing

WEIGHT WATCHERS FAQ

Common questions asked about the Weight Watchers program by our community. Click each to see the full answer.

Can I do Weight Watchers without exercising? - Calcia 8/16/11

How much does Weight Watchers cost? - 7/20/11

Is Weight Watchers safe for kids? - Yoli 8/8/11

Is Weight Watchers good for diabetics? - Jackie 5/12/11

What do you get from weekly meetings? Hongquan 5/23/11

Are Weight Watchers Points confusing to anyone else? - 2/19/11

CONCLUSION

Weight Watchers is a tried and true veteran of the weight loss industry. With a variety of methods to choose from for both men and women, you're almost certain to find the right path for your weight loss journey. Weight Watchers provides guidance from every aspect of weight loss. Food is one of the primary concerns of any dieter and Weight Watchers goes above and beyond most other weight loss programs with thousands of recipes that anyone, dieting or not, will find tempting and delicious. If their style appeals to you, go for it.

WEIGHT WATCHERS SLIDESHOWS

7 Weight Loss Plans Fit for Fall

Biggest Celeb Weight Losses of 2010

The Cost of Losing 20 Pounds

Featured Diets

> Leave Feedback

User Feedback

(Page 9 of 33, 651 total comments)

Crystal

Don't do Weight Watchers Online. It's hard to navigate through the website and even after 24 hours if you are not satisfied with it you will have to pay out more money.I think it's a waste of money! I will not recommend weight watchers to anyone!

posted Feb 25th, 2011 8:55 am

Bill

What can you eat on weight watchers?I'm nervous to start Weight Watchers because I don't know what the food is like. Is it good?

posted Feb 24th, 2011 1:57 pm

Weini

I'm 148 would like to loss 8 pounds.

posted Feb 23rd, 2011 11:44 pm

m e

WW IS A SCAM!! All they want is your money, they do not care about helping anyone lose weight or live a healthy lifestyle!

posted Feb 23rd, 2011 6:39 pm

Donetta

I have lost over 80 lbs using this program and I am still going.

posted Feb 22nd, 2011 5:12 pm

Sandra

I have mixed feelings about the WW PP program. I joined at the beginning of Jan and the first week I lost about 2 lbs and the second week 1.5 lbs and then I gained 2 lbs and then I lost 1lb. What I'm leary about is, I weighed in today and I had only lost .4 but I weighed myself at home and I had lost 2 lbs. My scale is accurate I had it checked recently. And I had a dr's appt today and I was down 2 lbs just like at home. Perhaps WW should check their scale. That's awfully strange. If you want to test your scale to ensure it's accurate, lay a 10 or 15lb barbell on it and if it's accurate it will match. So I'm skeptical about weighing in at WW. Not to meantion, all my clothes are very loose.

posted Feb 21st, 2011 9:14 pm

donna nelson

I did not lose on the Points Plus program. Also, in our group of about 40 people, our total weight loss in one week was 30 pounds. The lady I sat beside and I lost no weight that week. I think this works for people who have a lot to lose but for those of us who have about 10 or 15 pounds it is veeeery slow or not at all.

posted Feb 21st, 2011 9:34 am

Tara

I love the old WW program. I just started the new points plus system 3 weeks ago, following it religiously and i am losing weight sooooo slowly. With this new program, Its taken me 3 weeks to lose 6 lbs. With the OLD program, I would lose more than 6 lbs in the first week!
This is insane. They need to give you the option because if I went back to old program, I wouldn be able to use all my old books forever! I will need updates eventually!
I guess I'll just cut down my daily allowance with the new program and see if that helps.....
Besides all that nonsense, its a wonderful program.
I guess

posted Feb 21st, 2011 12:38 am

jodie

I hate the new points plus plan! I have been on the plan for a month and i am not losing. in three weeks i lost a total of 1.8 pounds. i thought i need to be more accurate on serving sizes. Last week I weighed and measured all most everything and i gained a pound back. On the old plan i would lose about three pounds for the first two weeks then 1-2 pounds a week after that. This is really frustrating. I had faith in WW from past experience but now i feel like they are taking my money for nothing. What pisses me off even more is that i am motivated to lose this weight and i just wasted a month of effort for nothing!

posted Feb 20th, 2011 10:55 am

Yoga Jim

Are the Weight Watchers points confusing to anyone else? Why do they keep changing them?

posted Feb 19th, 2011 6:30 pm

Profile Message

Denise

we bought some chocolate eclairs and they were the worst ones we haave ever eaten. The biggest problem was with the pastry. It was hard as a rock, which made it very difficult to enjoy the other flavors. We really like some of your food items, as we are the age where we need to be watching our weight. VERY DISSAPOINTING. Maybe there is some way to rectify the situation? Thank you for your attention to this matter. George & Denise Tyrolt - e-mail address is: graciedt@charter.net

posted Feb 19th, 2011 5:22 pm

Hillbilly Mama

Points Plus is way to slow for me. With the old program I would lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. Now, I am lucky to see .8. I am going to try to reduce my daily allowance and see if that helps. If not I am back to momentum.

posted Feb 17th, 2011 8:48 am

jeanine badal

I would like some help to loose weight.

posted Feb 15th, 2011 10:18 am

shane

OK, I have to admit I was wrong...The new pts plus is to slow for me...2 weeks ago I went back to the Momentum plan and the weight is coming off faster and I will stick with Momentum plan @ home. Tracking everything and excercise also. everyday I see weight loss and I love it . Im now down 25 pds and have32 more to loss.then I will do maintanaince. I think pts plus is just a way for WW to make more money,because it is alot slower weight loss. Momentum is better for me.my goal is a size 32 waistline again and I will see it by summertime. Food for thought. LOL, no pun intended.

posted Feb 15th, 2011 10:16 am

Profile Message

Carolyn

Same story about cancelling and ww keeping my money. Frustrating and it would seem illegal. Lawyers?

posted Feb 13th, 2011 3:07 pm

Sylvia

As soon as the switch to the new plan occurred, weight started to go up and continues

posted Feb 13th, 2011 12:32 pm

Sunlover

I began the Points Plus program 2 weeks ago. The first week I followed it to the letter and only lost .6lbs. I was frustrated because on the old flex program I lost at least 1lb every week, sometimes more. I truly felt that there were just too many points for me as I only have about 10lbs to lose (just some of the old weight I'd gained back over time from not keeping up with the program). I decided to tweak a few things and see if that made a difference. I began counting fruit, just like the old plan and I reduced my daily points to 20 just like on the old plan, but kept most everything else the same. I didn't worry too much if I went over the daily 20 points by a point or two every now and then. It worked and the second week I lost 2.5lbs. I will keep my eye on it and see if this might be a little much to lose every week and I will adjust my points up a little, but so far this is working for me.

posted Feb 12th, 2011 6:30 pm

Barbara Kestenbaum

I like the old weight watches better. To go on the computer and watch points is not easy for me. I like to see what I should eat right in front of me. I only have to loose 8 lbs. If I was told eat this and eat this and how much I would loose it easily. I can't just run to the computer evertime I eat something, especially since I work.

posted Feb 10th, 2011 8:08 pm

Carol

I love the WW program!! I lost 75 pounds in just under a year. The best part for me is that I can eat whatever I want, and I never feel hungry. This really is one of the best diet programs around!

posted Feb 9th, 2011 12:49 am

doris

I achieved goal weight in 1980. I've lost weight on every variation of their program since then. I still see saw, though not so much on the points plan. I've been on the new Points Plus plan for 7 weeks since it first came out. I have added daily 30minute exercise routines. I now weigh 1.4 pounds more than I did when I started. I've gone back to the old Points plan and am now losing again. Thanks, but, no, thanks!

posted Feb 7th, 2011 8:28 pm

« previous 45678910111213 next »

Leave Feedback

Browse Diets

Recipe of the Day

Blackberries Jubilee

Keep up with Diets in Review Get Weekly Email Updates (sample) Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our RSS Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Weight Watchers Weigh-In 2/13/08

My body Transformation!

Customer Service

Quick Links

Stay in Touch

The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice, doctors visit or treatment. The provided content on this site should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. It should under no circumstance replace the advice of your primary care provider. You should always consult your primary care physician prior to staring any new fitness, nutrition or weight loss regime.

82%