Weight Watchers are being loved by dieters, especially in America. Top celebrities like Oprah Winfrey are also interested in this diet. So, what is the Weight Watchers diet like?
What is the Weight Watchers Diet?
Weight Watchers is a unique diet program created by a company to lose weight. This program is top-rated. In 2017 alone, Weight Watchers managed to rack up over 600,000 members.
Weight Watchers (WW) was founded in 1961 by Jean Nidetch. Initially, the program took the form of regular weekly meetings with a group of people to discuss food and how they felt about each other’s weight.
Because it succeeded in helping these people lose weight, Jean finally took this program to a more serious step.
He created this program based on the theory that weight loss can be achieved through a commitment to change bad eating habits and lifestyle.
The goal is not temporary, either. The Weight Watchers diet involves making healthier lifestyle changes that you will live with for the rest of your life.
In the company’s application, Weight Watchers provides a community forum for weight loss fighters to support each other and share stories.
What is the diet like on the Weight Watchers diet?
Initially, the WW diet was similar to a system designed for the special diets of people with diabetes. Entering the 90s, Weight Watchers introduced a point system for food and drinks based on fiber, fat, and calorie content.
The program later launched the SmartPoints system in 2015. This feature assigns grades to food items that appear automatically.
When starting the program, the personal data of each member will be collected to determine the daily points amount. This data includes height, age, gender, medical history, and weight loss goals.
Later, when undergoing this program, all members must eat below a predetermined daily point to achieve the desired weight.
Weight Watchers does not prohibit the consumption of certain foods. However, healthy food has lower points than packaged food or fast food.
Some foods that are good for you to consume, according to Weight Watchers, are:
- fruit and vegetables,
- low-fat meat,
- unsweetened dairy products,
- source of complex carbohydrates, as well
- food sources of healthy fats such as olive oil.
Not only limiting eating below the daily points, but the WW program also encourages its participants to exercise more or do other physical activities.
Is the Weight Watchers diet effective?
Several studies have shown the effectiveness of the Weight Watchers diet in losing weight.
WW reported that 19.4% of 1002 participants who lost weight could maintain their weight for five years following the program. When the weight increases, it is only around less than three kilograms.
Meanwhile, in another study by the National Health Service, some Weight Watchers members also experienced a decrease in fat mass to reduce waist circumference.
In addition, some WW members reported increasing their insulin levels and HDL ‘good’ cholesterol. It is undoubtedly good news for people who have blood sugar disease.
The support from community members and the compensation provided by WW also increased the participants’ enthusiasm to be more motivated to achieve their ideal weight.
The WW diet is effective, but…
Unfortunately, some people are against the WW program despite the positive results. One of them is a weighing system every week.
Indeed, the Weight Watchers diet does not promise drastic weight loss compared to other diet programs. The expectation of losing weight in the WW program is as much as 0.5 – 1 kilogram per week.
It is feared that this can lead to hopelessness for those with severe weight problems such as obesity or who are in a hurry to lose weight.
In addition, you have to spend more if you want to be more optimal in carrying out this program. One week, you can spend 14 US dollars. Imagine if you wanted to live it for years.
Therefore, before you are tempted to participate in this program, ensure you have a strong commitment and sufficient funds. What’s more, the Weight Watchers program isn’t the only way to lose weight.
Following a healthy diet by eating balanced nutritious foods and regular physical activity is enough to help you achieve your ideal body weight.
If you have certain conditions or want to lose weight faster, consult a doctor or nutritionist to get the best solution.
