Science and Weight Watchers
The Four Pillars of a Science-Based Approach
By The Weight Watchers Research Dept. | 1/1/2005


Weight Watchers is committed to providing a comprehensive approach to
weight loss that is based on the latest scientific thinking. All too
often in weight loss, a program or product is developed and then
individual studies that support the program are provided to "justify"
its existence. The Weight Watchers approach comes out of the science,
not the other way around.

There are four principles from which Weight Watchers will not waiver.

Healthy Weight Loss
First, any approach developed by Weight Watchers must provide healthy
weight loss, which means:

Produce a rate of weight loss of up to two pounds per week (after the
first 3 weeks, during which losses may be greater due to water loss).
Guide food choices that not only reduce calories, but meet current
scientific recommendations for nutritional completeness and reduced
disease risk.
Construct an activity plan that provides the full range of weight-
and health-related benefits that exercise offers.
Be sustainable. Healthy weight loss is weight loss that lasts, so it
is necessary to look beyond losing the excess weight and address
keeping it off.


Fits Into Your Life
Second, any Weight Watchers approach must be realistic, practical and
livable. It must also be flexible enough so that people can apply the
approaches that work well for them. That means encouraging the
achievement of realistic goals. For example, we do not recommend that
a person with a lot of weight to lose begin with a weight-loss goal
that defines "ultimate success." Rather, we start with our "10% goal"
or losing 10% of body weight (e.g., a 10% goal for someone who is 200
pounds is 20 pounds). A weight loss of 10% translates into
significant health benefits. Likewise, pacing weight loss and
following a system that encourages food and activity choices that are
livable and sustainable in the real world is key. Weight Watchers is
designed on the premise that weight management needs to fit into your
life, not be your life.

Informed Choices
Third, Weight Watchers believes in imparting knowledge. At Weight
Watchers, people learn not only what to do, but why. This knowledge
brings understanding and with understanding comes the confidence
needed to make informed choices and live by them.

A Holistic View
Finally, the Weight Watchers approach must be comprehensive.
Sustained weight loss comes from taking a holistic view of all its
components – food, exercise, behavior and a supportive atmosphere.

Now let's take a look at how each of those pillars gets translated
into a science-based approach that a person can follow.