Losing weight can be a daunting task, and it can be even harder to know where to start. If your research on diet programs led you here, it’s very likely that you are considering WeightWatchers.
WeightWatchers is a well-known program with decades-long history. For over 58 years, this program has helped millions of people lose weight — including influential celebrities like Oprah Winfrey. If you want to begin a weight-loss journey, WeightWatchers may be the push you’re searching for. Follow along to see if their program is right for you.
Editors’ note: Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet.
What is WeightWatchers?
You know the name, you’ve heard the talk or seen the commercials — maybe even one from the 2015 Super Bowl.
WeightWatchers is among the most popular dieting regimens available. In 2019, WeightWatchers reached over 4.6 million members all over the world. It continues to grow today.
Membership plans
WeightWatchers offers two membership plans that aim to meet the unique needs of each individual looking to lose weight. Memberships only include what’s accessible through the app, and don’t include any actual meals, only a plan with recipes you can follow.
The two memberships you can choose from are:
Core
With this membership, you get a fully personalized food plan paired with recipes that’ll help you reach your goals. You can also access meal, water, activity, weight and sleep trackers so you can stay on top of your progress. Even though this is WW’s basic plan, you also get workouts for all levels and 24/7 live coaching. Workshops are not included with this membership.
Premium
This membership includes everything under Core, as well as access to coach-led workshops. Join these workshops virtually or in person and learn new behavior change techniques and connect with other WeightWatchers users. Workshops are available seven days a week, day or night.
The WeightWatchers experience
When you enter the WeightWatchers site for the first time, you will be prompted to take a quick quiz to further personalize your program. The quiz asks questions about your home life, reasons why you want to lose weight, sleep cycle and even your mindset going into the program.
Once finished, WeightWatchers will recommend the membership plan best suited for you based on your answers. It’ll also suggest areas of your life that you can improve to reach your weight loss goals, whether that be nutrition, activity, sleep or mindset.
WeightWatchers then provides — based upon your membership plan — resources to make strides towards your goals. If you struggle with reaching your desired amount of sleep each night, there are guided meditations you can listen to before bed. If you would like to be more active during your day, there are workout classes you can join virtually.
PersonalPoints
In November 2021, WeightWatchers launched its new PersonalPoints program. Users no longer need to choose between Green, Blue or Purple meal plans. Instead, the program tailors an unique wellness and weight-loss plan to each individual.
WeightWatchers assigns each food a number of points. Foods higher in saturated fats or sugar, like potato chips or chocolate, tend to be high in points. Meanwhile, healthy whole foods such as fruits and vegetables or foods high in protein and fiber like chicken are low in points.
Depending on your personalized meal plan, you will be given a set number of points that you can use daily. This means that every meal you eat will subtract from your budget. Please note that you will not be penalized in any way if you go over your points budget. Those things happen!
One nice feature is that your points roll over, so you never have to feel like you are throwing away points if you don’t hit your daily budget. For example, if you eat only 15 points on Monday (out of a budget of 16 daily points), you could potentially eat 17 points on Thursday. In addition, users will be rewarded for logging healthy behaviors such as increasing activity, meeting a daily water goal and eating non-starchy vegetables with additional points. The rollovers happen automatically in the WeightWatchers app.
Keep in mind that, while WeightWatchers pushes well-balanced meals full of protein, fruits, vegetables and nutrients, the company is adamant that no food is off-limits.
ZeroPoint foods
ZeroPoint foods are everyday nutritional food items that you don’t need to track — meaning that they aren’t counted toward your daily points budget. Everyone’s ZeroPoint foods list will be different since it’s tailored to your personalized plan. The number of ZeroPoint foods allowed will depend on your plan and taste but some of the basics include:
- Whole-grain pasta
- Eggs
- Fruits
- Beans
- Lean chicken
- Potatoes
- Tofu
- Oats
- Brown rice
A day in the life of a WeightWatchers user
This is an example day of 16 daily points.
Breakfast: Omelet with cheese, ham and bell peppers (2 points)
Lunch: Pesto chicken sandwich with a side of Italian arugula salad (8 points)
Snack: Plain fat-free cottage cheese with fresh peaches (0 points)
Dinner: Italian turkey sausage and pepper pasta (3 points)
Dessert: Sugar-free ice cream bar (3 points)
After counting all of these meals, you would have totaled 16 points. Keep in mind that you have the power to create and plan your meals to your liking.
Pricing
Depending on the plan you choose, your costs using WeightWatchers can vary. Keep in mind that your membership cost doesn’t include the price of ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of the weekly costs:
Core: Starts at $15 per month
Premium: Starts at $30 per month
WeightWatchers is currently offering first three months for free.
Note: A $20 starter fee will be added to your membership the first time you sign up.
The WeightWatchers app
Track your meals right in the app.
WeightWatchersThe WeightWatchers app has pretty solid ratings on the App Store and Google Play store.
4.8 out of 5 stars on App Store
4.4 out of 5 stars on Google Play store
The user-friendly app is one of the best parts of the program. Since you bring your phone everywhere, your dieting plan can come, too.
The WeightWatchers app allows you to:
- Track points, sleep, activity, and water intake
- Communicate 24/7 with customer support and other people using the app
- Access prerecorded coaching sessions and meditations
- Scan barcodes to see points for specific foods
- Find recipes based on what is in your fridge
- Plan all your meals for the week
- Track your weight and reflect on your goals
What do studies say about WeightWatchers?
Recent research has a lot to say about the relationship between WeightWatchers users and weight loss. While there are plenty of tempting fad diets to choose from, evidence seems to suggest that WeightWatchers is the real deal.
A study from 2017 found that, out of a test group who struggled with obesity, 57% lost weight on WeightWatchers compared to 42% on another weight-loss program.
Another study from 2016 found that WeightWatchers and another popular dieting program, Jenny Craig, were effective in helping a test group lose weight. The study concluded that health physicians could recommend either program to patients who are looking to lose weight.
Benefits of the WeightWatchers diet
There are a lot of benefits to the WeightWatchers program, such as:
- A huge emphasis on exercise and overall wellness, not just dieting
- Personalized plans
- Little restrictiveness
- User-friendly app
- Never have to skip meals or fast
- Not a fad; could be sustainable for you
- Find motivation within virtual classes
- Lots of other resources
Potential drawbacks
The cons of this dieting regiment seem to hit in two main categories: nutrition and money.
- Low points don’t always equal high nutritional value.
- Could potentially encourage poor eating habits in the future or trigger eating disorders such as binge eating. Being on a calorie deficit may activate your hunger levels, which in turn can lead to overeating or yo-yo dieting.
- If you need one-on-one coaching, you’ll have to pay for the most expensive plan.
The bottom line
WeightWatchers is not a one-size-fits-all program. It is not recommended if you don’t have the time to plan or track your food each day. It’s not for those who deeply struggle with self-control and portion sizing. It is great if you’re looking for overall wellness advice, however, such as help tracking sleep, activity and water intake. There are little to no restrictions when customizing a dieting plan fit just for you.
- If you need extra support on your goals, the one-on-one Coaching Plus Digital membership may be the best for you.
- If you’re only looking for dieting advice and healthy eating habits from experts, the Digital plan may make the most sense.
- If you want your experience to be less self-guided, then choose the Digital 360 plan.
- If you prefer learning through videos and seminars, then Unlimited Workshops Plus Digital may be the way to go.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
