Why is weight watchers successful

I was convinced that I would benefit from a program that would not only hold me accountable, but also give me the needed coping skills to help me stick to my goals when life gets in the way. So one month ago, I put aside those shameful memories and decided to give WW another shot. I was definitely reluctant about joining, but after I took the time to explore the new plan, I liked that it put a focus on eating whole foods.

I knew that I could do this program, not as a short-term diet, but as a long-term lifestyle. My digital subscription gives me the ability to track my points easily on an app on my phone, and the barcode scanner makes it simple to find the points of any food. No awkward meetings in church basements for me! Even better, I loved having access to a WW coach, a feature I used when I was faced with three social engagements in one weekend, all rife with possibilities to eat and drink alcohol and then eat some more when my inhibitions were lowered.

The WW coach, who I instant messaged through the app, helped me come up with a strategy for handling these events and my food choices, and I came out of that weekend without gaining an ounce.

She said that this support could also come from a program like WW. If so, what are some different options? In addition to encouraging healthy eating, WW also motivates users to stay active by assigning members a weekly fitness goal, referred to as FitPoints. Activities like dancing, walking, and cleaning, in addition to more traditional workouts like running and weightlifting, all count toward your FitPoints goal.

The app also provides fitness videos and workout routines, along with a weekly review of your physical activity level. Because sleep is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle, WW also offers a sleep tracker and services from Headspace, including sleep music, 5-minute behavior change coaching, and mini-meditations.

These Wins can be exchanged for prizes, including WW keychains, fitness accessories, and kitchen tools. Unlike many fad diets that promise unrealistic results over short periods of time, WW explains to members that they should expect to lose 0. The program highlights lifestyle modification and counsels members on how to make better decisions by using the SmartPoints system, which prioritizes healthy foods.

Many studies have shown that WW can help with weight loss. One study found that people with overweight who were told to lose weight by their doctors lost twice as much weight on the WW program than those who received standard weight loss counseling from a primary care professional 1.

Though this study was funded by WW, data collection and analysis were coordinated by an independent research team. Furthermore, a review of 39 controlled studies found that participants following the WW program lost 2. Another controlled study in over 1, adults with obesity found that participants who followed the WW program for 1 year lost significantly more weight than those who received self-help materials or brief weight loss advice 3.

Overall, most of the studies on the WW diet find that participants lost an average of 10—15 pounds 4. While some involve counting SmartPoints more than others, the plans overall encourage members to choose healthier, more nutritious foods.

The plans also allow members to enjoy their favorite foods, as long as they fit into their allotted daily SmartPoints value. Additionally, unlike diets that forbid certain foods, WW allows users to eat them within reason.

This means members can go out to dinner or attend a party without worrying if the food served will fit into their diet plan. Another benefit of the program is that it provides members with tools and resources for achieving a healthier lifestyle. For example, to follow the program, you must be willing keep track of the foods — and their associated SmartPoints — that you consume each day, even if you choose the more relaxed Purple plan.

The reason? The three plans also allow participants to pick the format that best fits their lifestyle, whether that means losing weight, getting physically fit, or developing a healthier mindset. Based on a SmartPoints Budget of 23, a sample day might consist of: Breakfast Egg over red potato, kale , and bacon hash with coffee and milk.

Snack Cheese or nuts , and fruit. Dessert Chocolate pizzella fruit tart. There are many potential benefits of the WW diet, which is about making positive lifestyle changes, as opposed to restricting certain foods and food intake. Another benefit to WW, and one thing that sets it apart from fad diets , is that no foods are off limits. The allure of fad diets is that they can help you shed pounds fast, but rapid weight loss like this often comes at a price.

Not only do many fad diets eliminate or limit nutrients essential to overall health — for example, the keto diet severely limits carbohydrates, an important macronutrient — but once that short-term diet stops, people tend to regain weight quickly, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Fad diets can also be dangerous for anyone who has had or may be prone to eating disorders. The general rule of thumb? Steer clear of diets that sound too good to be true or promise rapid weight loss. One major disadvantage of the program is that WW coaches are not medical professionals trained in diet and nutrition.

Depending on your diet personality, there could be additional drawbacks. While the flexibility of the program is welcome to some, for others it may cause too much temptation, says Kraus.

Unlike fad diets, including the ketogenic diet , which help people drop weight fast but are not sustainable long term, WW helps people lose weight and maintain it. A study published in May in the journal The Lancet found obese adults who followed WW for one year lost more weight than those who stuck with the program for 12 weeks, or those who used self-help materials.

This one gives you a minimum of 30 daily SmartPoints and about ZeroPoint foods to choose from mostly fruits and nonstarchy veggies. This plan has a moderate SmartPoints budget. The ZeroPoint foods include fruits, vegetables, most lean proteins, most seafood, nonfat dairy, beans, lentils, eggs, tofu, whole grains, potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and oatmeal.

But it can be easier to overeat on this plan. Signing up for WW gives you a ton of resources to help you make healthy choices. One reason WW stands out from other weight loss programs is that no foods or food groups are off-limits.

With SmartPoints you can ultimately eat whatever you want, as long as you stay within your limit. Still, WW suggests limiting foods high in sugar and saturated fats, such as:. Again, what you eat is entirely up to you, and WW makes it pretty clear that no food is off-limits. WW strongly encourages meal planning and prepping as a way to stick to your daily SmartPoints.

Mapping out your points for the day in advance can def make it easier to meet your numbers. WW also strongly encourages tracking your food to stay on top of your daily SmartPoints.

This one assumes you were given 23 SmartPoints on the Blue plan. WW uses a scientifically proven weight management program. It emphasizes the importance of known success strategies like portion control , choosing a variety of healthy foods, and aiming to lose weight at a slow but steady rate.