Weight Wathcers

Weight Watchers is a commercial weight loss program that promotes a balanced low fat nutrition diet, exercise, and group counseling. It is the diet most recommended by physicians who agree with the method of combining a balanced diet with exercise at a pace that promotes healthy lifestyle changes. The Weight Watchers program is flexible and encourages eating a selection from all the food groups including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat, calcium, and fiber.

The Weight Watchers program is designed to help a person learn to consume fewer calories than they burn each day. No food is off limits and dieters are encouraged to eat according to a food point system called the Flex Points Plan. This plan is actually based on portion control. Every item of food from vegetables and fruits to pizza and ice cream has a points value based on its nutritional content. A person may eat anything as long as he or she stays within his or her allotment of points. A person's number of points for the day is calculated based on weight and height.

Weight Watchers encourages exercise for it's members. Exercise is rewarded with extra points in the Flex Points Plan. By eating food according to the points allotted in the Flex Point Plan and exercising, the average person can expect to lose ½-2 lbs per week. The weight loss will be slow and can be frustrating by those who want quick results, but it is healthy and done in a way that encourages permanent healthy lifestyle changes.

Weight Watchers also provides tools for its members to better help them adapt to changes. The program provides online tools on its website called eTools. These tools include a point calculator for different types of food as well as recipes. Weight Watchers also provides community support in the form of group meetings and counseling sessions. Dieters are free to discuss any problems they encounter as well as provide insight and encouragement to other members by sharing their own weight loss experience.

Weight Watchers is one of the most popular weight loss programs. Consumer Reports magazine declared it the best of all commercial diets available in August 2005. Weight Watchers dieters have also been extensively studied and found to be the most successful dieters. Weight Watchers is a weight loss program because it encourages a balanced diet plan and exercise. The only drawback to is the cost. The program is estimated to cost $45-60 a month. However, many successful dieters have found the program worth the expense.