What is Weight Watchers®?

Weight Watchers® is a worldwide company that helps people to lose weight and maintain their weight loss. The company was founded in the early 1960s and continues to teach people to make healthy lifestyle choices. Some people join a Weight Watchers® weekly meeting, while some join the online support website. The physical meetings and the online tools may aid in successful weight loss and maintenance.

The company has used a variety of weight-loss programs over the years, but it still continues to pursue the same goals for its members. The company uses a simple healthy diet plan to help members lose weight. There are no restrictions on foods in the diet, but the Weight Watchers® leaders encourage healthy foods and appropriate portion sizes.

On the eating plan, each food is assigned a point value depending upon the its calories, fat and fiber content. Each member is assigned a specific amount of points per day depending on her weight, height and other personal factors. The plan is for each member to eat healthy foods that add up to their daily points intake. The goal of the plan is to encourage weight loss over time.

Most Weight Watchers® members attend a weekly support meeting. The majority of members attend one meeting a week, but some join several meetings a to fit their needs. The meetings are lead by a team leader, who usually has a topic for each meeting. Topics include such things as cooking healthy foods, choosing good foods when dining out, exercising and much more. Members learn and get weight-loss support from the leader and the other group members.

Weight Watchers® members can follow the weight-loss plan solely on the Internet without attending physical meetings. The online site provides members with tools such as weight-loss trackers and charts, healthy meal ideas, dining out guides and more. The site teaches the same weight-loss plan as the weekly meetings.

The Weight Watchers® plan is designed for adult women and men. Traditionally, more women attend meetings than men, but the company makes an effort to get men involved in their weight-loss plan. The company offers weight-loss tools and literature that are geared towards a man's lifestyle.

The plan also helps members maintain weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Once the members achieve a healthy goal weight, they stay on a maintenance plan. Members can continue to come to meetings or use the online tools for lifetime support.