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 1 of 41, 805 total comments)Lauren Allen
I was so optimistic when I began. It became sort of preachy, when you have a captive audience of those like me, an unhappy fattie. I would lose 4 lbs, then gain three, then gain some more, all the while knowing I was counting my points. I was being active, then being treated like a liar when I showed a gain. The only thing getting thinner was my wallet. Also, my current healthcare provider said they would "cover" my meetings at ww as it was me working towards a healthier future. WW refused to cover my meetings. I no longer feel good about this organization; like anything else, all they want is your cash. Don't do it!!
posted Jun 13th, 2019 9:02 pmSarah byron
I don’t know what I paid for, on line chat never available, no support for my needs , just paying to record what I ate
posted Jun 7th, 2019 7:00 pmGA
WW is not a diet they say. Then why charge me $44. per month to loose weight! The miserable fat people get to pay for the lifers to sit back at meetings and gloat. Fun, fun. Not. But the basic principles are good and one does not need to go hungry.
posted Jun 4th, 2019 9:37 pmJeanette
Stay far away unless you like getting charged monthly fees for a service that doesn't even work.
posted Apr 19th, 2019 3:47 pmJosie
I find the WW plan healthy. I've changed my eating habits to more fresh vegetables and fruits. The 200 0 point foods make this an easy plan to use.
posted Apr 9th, 2019 9:13 amKelly Cox
Incredibly easy to use, and a real lifestyle change. I rarely even use the website any more--once I learned what to eat and not to eat, I just followed those guidelines. I can eat all the fruit and veggies I want, along with lean chicken and many other things. I lost 13 lbs in the last 4 weeks with WW.
posted Mar 31st, 2019 1:52 pmTaz Makayi
I am amazed at the results you are achieving on here. I also found that taking a daily healthy drink of stabilized aloe vera maintains my well being and improves my skin and has improved my digestion too. You may want to check out this site, https://www.americanalo.flp.com
posted Mar 6th, 2019 8:40 pmIurii Korolov
swwwws
posted Feb 21st, 2019 11:04 amNancy
I have lost 112 lbs so far without difficulty. It’s been a year and a half and I didn’t lose weight every week, but obviously I went down often enough. I can eat anything, anywhere as long as I keep track of my food. There are over 200 zero point foods, including fruit, chicken and turkey breast, beans, veggies inc. corn, fat free plain yogurt, eggs, and so much more, but zero does not mean unlimited. and free. With zero pt foods, you still watch your portion size. I couldn’t live without carbs such as bread and fruit and wouldn’t want to.
posted Feb 3rd, 2019 7:46 amLynn
It was a great program til Oprah turned it into a “touch feely” meeting with all “healthy options” and they allowed so many options! I needed the structure they had before and lost and kept off 20 pounds for years checking in monthly. It was great! I went back & Tried the new plan and it did not work for me as it is too confusing & way too much food! I gained!
posted Nov 26th, 2018 12:03 pmkathy
I paid for 3 months and canceled before the expiration date to avoid that large monthly charge that happened before. WW took my app and privileges away and would not let me complete the new 3 months I PAID IN FULL FOR....because I would not give them my credit card number back.
posted Oct 13th, 2018 1:23 amkathy
WW took my membership away (I paid in advance for 3 months) because I would not resubmit my credit card number.
posted Oct 13th, 2018 12:50 amMoJones
On-line it says that for meetings and on-line it was only $7 a week but I am being billed $44.95 a month!
posted Aug 26th, 2018 12:16 pmNora L Gaskins Ellis
I did not like this program and the changes Weight Watchers has made to their program. In addition, I feel tricked into purchasing a 6 month program I was not even familiar with. I thought it would be similar to the old program which allowed a certain number of points at a particular weight. I did try to cancel and do not recall a future cost for an immediate cancellation versus the cost for a cancellation at end of 6 months. I do feel robbed. I am discussed with the whole experience. I will never join WW again and will never recommend it again. Thanks but No Thanks!
posted Jul 26th, 2018 5:45 pmDiana veral
Will never do ww again. They make their point system overly complex so that you have to constantly rely on them. And thanks to them telling me i was allowed to bring my little bot to their meetings i now have a 7 yr old with an eating disorder! Ww makea you unable to leave the point counting behind... Try just cutting out processed foods, its easier and much more efficient! 2 years ww- 14 lbs... 6 months un processed foods 40 lbs down, and ive maintained it for 4 more months!
posted Jun 27th, 2018 8:50 pmdeb
WW was one of the best out there for years. So with some medical problems I went back to them to get back on track. The new program is unworkable for me. I have tried it for two weeks and have lost at the most 1 lb. I tried to contact them to explain and they said you had 72 hours to cancel. That is no time at all. So I'm out 3 months of fees but will not use them again. Beware and make sure the plan is for you
posted Jun 24th, 2018 1:53 pmKaren
The meetings are boring and preachy. The cost is high and the customer service is severely lacking. I was traveling and was told I could attend meetings at my destination. Not true. I was charged two months while not being able to attend meetings. Everyone pointed at each other but no one would refund my money.
posted Jun 19th, 2018 4:37 pmBottom line... 2 servings of dairy and 5 servings of fruit & veg per day. Low fat, high fiber and watch your calories. There, I have just given you the WW diet.
Morine Barnes
TISWAS Police 5 Shaw Taylor Credit Reference weightwatchers and gym is good enough for doctors it is good enough for me. I Morine Barnes is 13st 8lbs depression. I got 3st 8lbs fat to lose to maintain10st Dr RB Chitre cares i care. I diet weightwatchers and gym 12 weeks from GP. What better than weightwaychers and gym. Morine Barnes 59. Donald 60, Myola 38 & Rommel Edwards 36. Graham 90.
posted Jun 13th, 2018 10:40 pmEmily
Weight watchers was rubbish I stuck to the plan and I lost 1lb in my first week and my second week I lost nothing when contacting the company they were thoroughly unhelpful to me. I then cancelled my subscription 15 days not 14 days after taking the plan out so they proceeeded to charge me for a further two months as I was apparently “committed” to that. I then made a formal complaint to express my discus and got told “there’s nothing they can do” do not do weight watchers I’ve since lost 9lbs on a different slimming plan.
posted May 23rd, 2018 11:25 amJill
Buyer Beware. They will promise you credits and never deliver
posted May 17th, 2018 6:50 pm