Weight Watchers Diet

At a Glance

By Amy Paturel

Weight Watchers has become a powerful force on the diet scene, bringing millions of people around the world into small group meetings for weekly weigh-ins and diet support and tips. And while today's Weight Watchers program differs dramatically from years past, the main tenet is still to consume fewer calories than you expend.

Instead of counting calories, however, you'll either track your consumption using a POINTS system or use the no-counting Core Plan in which you select foods from a detailed list. You also have the option to skip the in-person meetings in favor of using an online program. The number of POINTS allowed each day is determined by your gender, weight, height, age and how you spend your days -- and because low-fat, high-fiber foods have the fewest POINTS values, the system encourages such foods by default. In the Core Plan, you choose from a list of fiber-rich, low-cal foods, but can also go 'off-list' for occasional indulgences like dessert. Both plans essentially follow a low-calorie, high-fiber diet.

Weight Watchers recently introduced their latest program called the Momentum Plan. This improved weight-loss system is essentially identical, in that it still asks dieters to use their POINTS system and offers them plenty of support. What’s different about WW now is that dieters are asked to spend their points on more ‘filling foods’ (especially those high in fiber, protein and healthy fats) so they feel more satiated. To accomplish this, dieters are required to follow a new set of guidelines, which include eating the following on a daily basis: 5 servings of fruits & veggies, 2 servings of milk products, 6 glasses of "liquids," 2 teaspoons of healthy oils (such as olive oil) and 1-2 servings of lean protein. They are also expected to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.