How Does The Weight Watchers Diet Work?

The Weight Watchers diet has been around so long that it's become as close to a grande dame as the industry has. In a world where fad diets come and go on a monthly scale, the fact that Jean Nidetch's creation has been around for several decades is nothing short of amazing.

It was the first program to take a "whole life" approach to weight loss, realizing that changing eating habits alone wasn't the solution. The cornerstone of it is the meetings, where members get together and, after the dreaded weigh in, celebrate their successes and support each other through their failures.

To become a Weight Watchers meeting leader, you have to have completed the program and remained at your goal weight for a certain period of time. Leaders have their own weigh ins frequently, and disciplinary action for being overweight can extend all the way to termination. Basically, you have to be able to walk the walk to talk the talk.

Each meeting starts with the "bravos," where the group leader walks through the crowd handing out gold stars and other awards for members who have lost weight and reached milestones. After that, there is usually a topic of sorts, but the sessions are really member-driven, responding to issues raised and problems encountered.

The eating plan is another cornerstone, and the evolutions it's gone through over the years are truly amazing. If you look at the first Weight Watchers cookbook, the recipes are very plain, with lots of dry chicken and plain boiled vegetables. A WW cookbook now is a veritable gourmet delight, with spices and exotic ingredients mixed in with leaner versions of homespun favorites.

The "points" program is one of the most recent evolutions, and it is a solid but flexible system for eating properly. There are hugely detailed "points guides" to both homemade food and restaurant chow, and even menu suggestions to get new members started on their first few weeks' worth of meals.

Exercise is another emphasis in the program. Every new member gets a series of pamphlets on a variety of exercises, and the meeting leaders are well trained in helping members perform them and modify them to suit physical limitations.

In short, the Weight Watchers diet is a total package. It's not as fast or as flashy as some others, but its longevity alone speaks for the fact that it has value to offer.

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