What is it?
Weight Watchers Diet is a diet plan based off a point system, where each food has a value, and you’re allowed only a certain amount of points a day. You can eat any foods you want, as long as you don’t pass the allowed points for the day.
The points offered are called SmartPoints, and the amount allowed is based off one one’s own body and individual weight loss goals. Healthy and low calorie foods have much less value, so it naturally steers people into eating more wholesome foods instead of eating high amounts of junk food. In this review you’ll hear customer reviews, the science behind Weight Watchers, and whether or not it can promote weight loss. The highest rated diet plan of 2024 was found to be the 18 Shake Diet. It’s a combination of a natural metabolism booster and high protein meal replacement. Learn more about the 18Shake diet plan by following the link provided here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
Weight Watchers Diet Ingredients and Side Effects
Ingredients:
No pre-packaged foods are required, it’s advised to cook one’s own meals at home. An app and guide is offered with over 287,000 different foods which have a stated number value.
High fiber, non-processed, and sugar free foods have a much lower point number. Processed foods and highly saturated foods tend to be the highest in points. So the diet focuses on introducing more healthy foods, which is already known as a practical way to lose weight.
There are also 4,000 recipes offered as well as optional support for meetings, online coaching, and dietary tips. Mobile apps are also offered to help people calculate their total points.
There isn’t much information provided by the company to showcase exactly how their approach is scientific, or how they choose specific foods to have higher points than others. The top 10 list found here offers the best diet plans that our experts have reviewed.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Weight Watchers Diet Quality of Ingredients
The quality of the ingredients can vary on what’s purchased, since no foods are off limits, what one purchases will determine the overall quality. The high points that processed foods have will force people to be more conservative in their food options.
No proof is provided by the makers of Weight Watchers to show why this diet has been formulated in the point system it offers.
It’s clear that by eating less processed foods and focusing on quality meats, high fiber, and filling foods that naturally weight loss is possible. However, no evidence is provided as to why their coaching system would be any better than not paying for this system and simply eating healthier,
One study by the Annals of Internal Medicine found that:
“Weight Watchers participants achieved at last 2.6% greater weight loss than those assigned to control/education”
This was in a 12 month period, and there were only slight increases in weight loss in comparison to people who were allowed to diet without control.
2.6% for someone weighing 200 pounds would be 5.2 additional pounds. This means that every month, a person can expect an additional 0.43 extra pounds of weight loss more than those who dieted on their own and made their own decisions without a points system.
This is a very poor amount of weight loss considering the amount it costs to pay for the online support. A list of the very best diet plans has bene reviewed by our experts.
Another major issue with the plan was that no official information is provided to show the points system before one buys into the plan. This makes it impossible to calculate if one is even capable of keeping up with this plan. Certain foods are not preferential for people, and it might require extreme changes in dieting in some.
Even with online support, there’s no guarantee that the advice offered will help one lose weight safely and effectively.
The Price and Quality of Weight Watchers Diet
There are different plans offered such as:
OnlinePlus: $4.30 per week when a 3 month long plan is offered. This amounts to $64.50 for the total 3 months.
Meetings + OnlinePlus: A 3 month plan is offered for $8.30 a week. This amounts to $124.50 for the full 3 months.
Coaching + OnlinePlus: Like the other plans, if 3 months is selected, the full price is $10.15. A full 3 months is $152.25.
These prices can vary, as it depends on what one chooses as their meals and how much support they want. No information is provided on what kind of background the people who give advice are, and whether or not they are certified diet or nutrition experts. Since they fail to mention this, it’s important to be cautious of the support offered.
A $20 fee is mandatory for every first time member. Web MD discusses the pricing of this diet by stating:
“Be prepared to spend some cash to get the full benefits”
Many customers also agree it’s incredibly pricy to keep the online support available. As you’ll see in the “Customer Opinions of Weight Watchers Diet”, many felt it wasn’t worth the price.
The top 10 list featured in the link here has the best diet plans.
Business of Weight Watchers Diet
Weight Watchers International is the official company name. Their contact information is as follows:
Phone Number: (800) 651-6000
Further contact information is provided to those who subscribe to the online system. There are currently 339 negative reviews on their Consumer Affairs page. Here are some direct quotes from customers:
“thought I was signing with a reputable company… Weight Watchers continued to withdraw money from my bank account for 3 months”
“I have been requesting my account to be closed for the past 3 months”
“No one is ever there when you need them”
“Weight watchers are total thieves. I cancelled my account 3 years ago and they have billed my credit card”
Hundreds of people claim that they continue to be charged by the company even after they’ve cancelled the online support, and no longer logging into to their profiles.
There are also 279 complaints on their Better Business Bureau site, mostly for the same reasons. People complained often about being constantly billed even after months or even years of no longer using their accounts. Customers were frustrated since they were told their account was cancelled, only to see billing from Weight Watchers appearing on their credit card statements.
People also said that when their accounts were active, that there wasn’t much support offered. To see a list of the top 10 diet plans click on the link offered here.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Weight Watchers Diet
Here is what some users had to say:
“just got de-motivated as I could see this wouldn’t work for me anymore”
“I tried it, but I didn’t have too much luck”
“helped me at first but I failed later on”
“it did not work… felt the meetings were very one sided, and it was like a chat”
People said that the offered meetings and support weren’t really helpful, and that it didn’t cater to people’s needs. It was more just general advice people were given such as obvious weight loss advice.
Another major issue was that people often said that they couldn’t keep up with the diet, and that many common foods had too many high points where they couldn’t eat comfortably.
Users had issues as well with the foods with fewer points, as its common sense what foods are allowed and which aren’t. The top 10 list features the best diet plans out now, click on this link to learn more.
Conclusion - Does Weight Watchers Diet Work?
When making a decision on a diet plan like Weight Watchers, it’s important to examine customer reviews, what’s offered, and whether or not weight loss is likely. The plan offers a point system which is meant to make dieting easier. However, hundreds of people have complained about a lack of food options, as well as being forced to limit many common foods. There were also hundreds that complained the company continues to charge them long after they’ve cancelled. Both on Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau people mention they continue to be billed.
The 2024 diet plan of the year was found to be the 18Shake Diet. It offers a high protein, appetite suppression meal replacement alongside a metabolism booster made with natural extracts with no added stimulants. There are no artificial additives, colors, binders, fillers, or harsh ingredients. Many customers have left testimonials and review showcasing their own weight loss results. People have said that the meal replacement can help suppress appetite for hours, and that it mixes well and has a pleasant taste.
The 18Shake Diet offers a diet pill and meal replacement that are both backed by full 30 day money back guarantee. Returns are offered with no questions asked, risk free. To discover more information about the 18Shake Diet, click on the link provided here.
User Feedback
(Page 15 of 41, 805 total comments)Sarah
For all of you gaining weight, there's a simple reason why. The new points system is focusing more on protein and less on carbs. This is a HEALTHIER thing, because now instead of just losing fat you are gaining leaner muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. Once you get over the initial (omg I am gaining weight because I'm being MORE ACTIVE and EATING MORE PROTEIN) you'll find yourself slimming down and losing more weight. Because of this gaining of muscle you're going to burn more calories while in a resting position (so let's say sitting and watching tv). So after you've been active during the day and are relaxing you're still going to be burning calories! This is why measuring is a better way of tracking loss than weight.
posted Mar 29th, 2011 8:35 pmI actually have not done weight watchers and have been calculating calories, fiber, etc. and it's starting to wrack my brain. I essentially was DOING weight watchers but not using their actual point system. I initially started to gain a little weight, but then I lost 20 pounds in three months. I am excited to get started with a program that essentially does what I was doing, with less math taking place on my part, and continuing my weight loss.
joolestoronto
I joined WW at the end of January and to date I have lost 21 pounds. Loving it! This is not a diet, it is a complete lifestyle change. I plan nutritious and balance menus the day before, drink my water and get my activity points (I walk each night, rain, sun or snow). I splurge in moderation and only when craving a certain food. I want to lose the weight and WW has really helped.
posted Mar 29th, 2011 3:05 pmLisa
I had the most successful weight loss when I followed this program. It educates you how to eat and how to make sensible food choices.
posted Mar 28th, 2011 8:35 pmleesa
gender
posted Mar 27th, 2011 5:53 amfemale non breastfeeding = 7
female breastfeeding = 14
mal= e 14
age
16-20= 5
21-35 = 4
36-50/= 3
51-65 =2
over 65 =1
weight
your weight is 2 digits your score will be the first digit (ie you weight 86 kgs, the score is 8)
if your weight is 3 digits your score will be the first TWO digits
height
under 160cm =1
over 160cm= 2
how active are you?
sitting down mostly= 0
ocassionally sitting mainly standing= 2
ocassionally standing mainly walking =4
doing hard work most of the time= 6
hope this helps
you just add up the number next to each criteria that responds to you.
mine is 21. if that all makes sense.
s.winter
-i have been using online program for 6 weeks and lift weights and walk 3km daily and am 4 lb heaver than I started..
posted Mar 26th, 2011 7:50 pmkaren
I just want to say that the verdict is still out for Points Plus. I lost 46 pounds, hit a plateau, which lasted nearly 1 year and then experienced a slight weight gain. Since February I've been focusing on tracking, eating my healthy guidelines and exercising 4 x a week. Guess what? Net weight loss of 4 pounds. While I am glad for the 4 pounds, this has caused me to wonder whether points plus is for me. Like several other postings here I wish they would bring back the old program. AND by old I mean pre Momentum. I had my best success on the Turnaround plan (2008)
posted Mar 23rd, 2011 2:29 pmhongquan
?What do you get from the weekly meetings?Hi WW members, can you guys let me know what you get from the weekly meetings? How often do you go to the meetings? Do you stay with the program after reaching your weight target? I am thinking about joining in the program but I wonder how the weekly meetings help.
Kara
I dont understand this pro points and why there is so much negative response to it?
posted Mar 22nd, 2011 4:35 pmI have been doing slimming world and this new point system and whole plan has been swiped form slimming world appart from it's crap if your all putting weight on.
Slimming world tells you to eat lots of fruit and veg (free foods)
set amount of dairy
set amount of fiber
but pasta potatoes and rice
meat and fish are all free foods to
then you have an allowance of 10 syns per day for treats (sweets, wine , crisps etc..)
this is a healthy stuctured way of eating and very flexible i dont see why any of you should be putting weight on?
Am confused i was looking at changing just to try it out and i am thinking i am better doing slimming world.
So why is ww better than slimming world if there new plan is so pants?
mks
-I lost 28 pounds easily and steadily on the OLD program. I loved it! I have been on the New program now for 3 months and I have now gained 15 pounds back! I follow it exactly just like I did the old program and I don't use the extra points and I also do 150 minutes of cardio a week and lift weights! BRING BACK THE OLD PROGRAM!
posted Mar 22nd, 2011 12:48 pmVirginia
-I lost 75 pounds on the old system. I can�??t get myself to fit in the points on the new plan. I just wish I had the old plan�??s worksheet for figuring out how many points I�??m allowed each day. I relied on the website for that so I never kept a hard copy. I have my old points calculator so if I just knew how many points I could have, I�??d stick with the old plan.
posted Mar 22nd, 2011 7:14 amBuffie
I started Weight Watcher's Point Plus Program in January 2011 and in 9 weeks I have hit my 10% goal and have lost 21 pounds. I love it. I don't know why I never joined WW before. It is the best weight loss program I have ever been on, and I have tried quite a few. People don't like change, but the truth of the matter is the points plus program does work.
posted Mar 21st, 2011 6:36 pmOlive Reece
-Weight Watchers has changed for the worse! Tools needed to be successful on the program are not available-even after paying for the tools. Also, I have found weight loss with the new program to be much slower than previous program. Therefore, one must be a paying member LONGER to reach goals. I have been totally disappointed.
posted Mar 19th, 2011 11:58 amPeggy
-I signed up 3 weeks ago for the new PP plan on WW. The new PP plan (for me) is definitely easy to follow and I find myself not wanting to use all my points, but I do. On week one, I lost 4 lbs.! How exciting, right? Well, week 2, I gained almost 2 lbs. back, week three, another 1/2 gain!!! So to my brain....I am almost forcing myself to eat all my points and yes I am eating healthy, good nutrient foods, and then gaining weight!!! I am exercising and following the plan....why am I gaining weight? Needless to say, when I got off the scales this morning I had to find the tissues, I was so distraught! At this point, I don't think the new PP system works as well as the old system and quite frankly, I'm done. I can go back to normal and maintain my current weight, why do I want to pay for a plan that is causing me to count and record everything I eat, exercise and gain weight! REALLY???
posted Mar 18th, 2011 9:53 amdaphne
Having been a WW life time member for thirty-some years, I joined the online Points Plus program in January to lose a bit of weight for my daughter's June wedding. After a tiny initial loss I find myself gaining every week, despite stepping up activity and exercising. Needless to say, I've cancelled my subscription and will go back to doing what I know works. A great disappointment. And I feel as though I've been had! But I did want to send out a word of warning!
posted Mar 17th, 2011 6:13 pmCrystal
I lost almost 40 pounds from September to January on WW before my weight loss stalled out and I lost not only focus but the means to pay for the monthly plan. I HAVE however kept the weight off and the WW plan really changed my attitute towards weight loss from being a diet to being a lifestyle. I have multiple friends who have used WW over the years an none of them have a bad thing to say about how well the plan works and how it really changes your life and your outlook on food.
posted Mar 17th, 2011 1:27 pmThis isn't a starvation diet, it's not a gimmick, it's a tried and true lifestyle that if you really want to make that change and lose the weight for good, then you'll stop playing games with other plans and learn how to prepare and eat real everyday food in moderation.
Lastly I must say that I've known for years I needed to excersize more and this program kicked me into high gear and I am loving working out and keeping fit.
As they say at WW, "Work the plan and the plan works"
TENS Unit
Hi,
posted Mar 17th, 2011 8:55 amGood work�?�unique site and interesting too�?� keep it up�?�looking forward for more updates.
Thanks.......!!
Genevieve
-If you try the free trial, be SURE to cancel within the 7 days. If not, there is a minimul refund or be charged the minimum of 3 months, no exceptions even if it is one minute past the 7 days. Also, no way to contact the company by phone. I lost all respect for Weight Watchers after getting the rude customer service message about cancellations after sending an email 6 hours after the 7 day trial.
posted Mar 14th, 2011 2:22 amerin
+New points plus plan I lost 6 lbs in week 1 and 1.5 lbs in week 2. It does work!!! I feel satisfied with less food now. The recipes are amazing!
posted Mar 14th, 2011 12:57 amnaureen
This is the easiest plan to live the rest of your life on. You eat everyday foods, no prepackaged foods, or crazy plans where you eat only certain foods. You can eat what you want in portion controlled amounts. Nothing is off limits NOTHING!!!!!
posted Mar 12th, 2011 11:27 amkcliff01
I was on WW years ago when they first introduced the whole points concept. Lost 30 pounds and really enjoyed the program. A few life events since then, I gained back the weight and recently joined the Points Plus program. My knee-jerk response was: Too many points and fruits being zero points will lead to my failure. Mind you: this was before my first meeting even started! Over the last 3+ weeks, I have lost 15 pounds.
posted Mar 8th, 2011 2:06 pmI read these folks stating that they -- or a friend -- gained weight, but not a single person in my meetings (and there are 50 of us in there... all different weights) has shared a story of weight gain on the new program. Further, the removing of points for fruit has only been met with positive responses.
The WW Leader addressed the fruit concern by stating: "no one in this room is here because they ate too many apples or too much watermelon."
I have been borderline diabetic for the last three years so I reviewed the program with my doctor before I started and he supported it 100%. No concerns over the fruit either. His comments were that the GI values for fruit is not a concern, but empty carbs, such as white bread, white rice and sugar are.
Loving the program.