Weight Watchers' new — and surprisingly effective — points system doesn't take into account how much weight you want to lose (2024)
It seems like every Weight Watchers commercial features people — namely Oprah, these days — bragging about how many pounds they've lost.
But the calculation at the heart of the company's lauded new program, Beyond the Scale, doesn't actually take members' weight loss goals into account.
The company started Beyond the Scale at the end of 2015. It assigns foods points based on their nutritional values, giving members a set number of SmartPoints they can eat per day (and week).
Weight Watcher's Chief Scientific Officer Gary Foster said the calculation that determines how many SmartPoints members get only considers their height, weight, age, and gender.
Once Weight Watchers has that number, the company uses it to determine how many calories members should be eating per day in order to lose 1-2 pounds per week.
Even if members want to lose more weight faster, Foster said, the company doesn't support those goals because they're often not safe.
"Losing more has some safety issues with it," he told Business Insider. "We take these things very seriously. We will not prescribe an intake that we do not think is nutritionally adequate."
As members lose weight on the plan, Foster said, they'll get fewer and fewer SmartPoints to eat per day, gradually decreasing the amount of food they're eating to foster weight loss.
Participants in a clinical trial on the original plan for a year lost nearly 7 pounds, and an analysis from the company following hundreds of thousands of members found they had 15% greater weight loss with the new program compared to the old one.
So while it may be surprising that Weight Watchers doesn't take into account how much weight members want to lose on the plan, scientifically, it's actually a pretty good thing.
Will my Points® Budget go down as I lose weight? Yes. Our programme is designed to follow you on your journey, meaning your Points® Budget actually adjusts as your body changes. A smaller body uses less energy and requires fewer Points®.
Weightwatchers offers a lifestyle guidance program for those already taking anti-obesity meds prescribed from their own doctor. WeightWatchers members may also be eligible to receive Ozempic and Rybelsus and other Type 2 diabetes drugs often prescribed off label to treat obesity.
What is the downside of WeightWatchers? The points system used in WeightWatchers doesn't necessarily encourage healthy eating habits. Our testers believe the program oversimplifies food choices by hiding nutritional factors that can directly impact weight change.
Weight Watchers encourages healthy eating and discourages food deprivation. While following a WW plan, you can expect to lose an average of 8 pounds a month, or 2 pounds a week. This is a realistic and healthy goal to aim for, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In one study of 152 people with obesity, researchers found that people on WeightWatchers lost an average of nearly 6% of their body weight in 3 months. Plus, one-third of participants in this study were able to lose 10% or more of their body weight after 6 months.
You can save on Ozempic and get it for as little as $25 a month (28 days) for up to 24 months through the Ozempic Savings Card program. You do need to have commercial or private insurance and a prescription for a 1-, 2-, or 3-month supply.
But the star got some backlash after revealing on a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show that she used a weight loss medication. When her guest, Whoopi Goldberg, raved about taking the injectable Mounjaro, Kelly shared her own experience.
To obtain the $25 savings card for Wegovy, you cannot be enrolled in a federal or state health care program with prescription drug coverage, including Medicaid, Medicare, Medigap, Tricare, and VA programs.
Yes.WW is one of the most well studied weight loss programs. It has been shown to be effective both for weight loss and cost savings (by reducing risks of other health problems). It also has been shown effective in treating pre-diabetes and reducing risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
Greasy or fatty foods, such as pizza and French fries, can make you feel overly full and are digested slowly, increasing the risk of nausea, vomiting, and heartburn. Soda and other carbonated drinks can increase the risk of nausea and acid reflux.
So, let's look again at the assertion that 57% of people in the WeightWatchers Success Registry maintained their weight over one year of follow-up, and 43% experienced weight regain of more than five pounds.
Meal planning sounds like the pits, but it can be very effective when it comes to succeeding at a diet such as Weight Watchers. Take an hour on your weekend to plan out every single meal for the week—including snacks. Make a grocery list for those meals and stick to that grocery list.
Summary. Losing 10 pounds may take 5–10 weeks or more. This equates to a calorie deficit of around 500 calories per day. While diet is the most important factor in losing weight, people can make other lifestyle adjustments to help them reach their goals.
Your personalized daily points allowance will depend on various factors, including activity level, desired weight loss, and preferred types of foods and snacks. You start by filling out an intake form, and from there, you receive a custom plan, which includes a Points Budget and ZeroPoint foods list.
If you're wondering how to lose 5 pounds a week on Weight Watchers, know that it will be a challenge, but it should be possible, especially at the start and if you have quite a bit of weight to shed. Later, you will probably find you lose less each week.
People who follow behavioural weight management programmes (such as WW, formerly Weight Watchers) regain between 30-35% of their lost weight after one year. Even people who use weight loss medications, such as Wegovy, are shown to have regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost one year after stopping the drug.
If your eating plan doesn't adjust as you lose weight, you could reach a point of equilibrium where you end up consuming the same number of calories your body burns each day, bringing on a weight-loss plateau.
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