Weight Watchers has been around for many years now and is a hugely successful commercial diet program that focuses on a balance of low fat nutrition, exercise and counseling.
Food items are assigned a points value and members use a points "calculator" and recipes provided by the program.
Members are also encouraged to attend local counseling sessions for ideas and advice and to assist with the lifestyle changes that accompany any dieting program. There is also online support, as well as online menus and calculators.
Additionally, Weight Watchers produce their own line of meals which may be purchased through many of the larger grocery chains.
A points value is assigned to foods based upon the size of the portion, the number of calories, the amount of fiber and the quantity of fat in each serving. As a general rule, high fat foods have a high points value and high fiber foods have a low points value. The daily allowance for dieters is then dependent upon such things as body weight and the desired weight loss.
The points formula is as follows:
Where: p = Points | c = Calories | f = Fat Grams | r = Dietary fiber Grams
(Note: in the term (min{r, 4}) a maximum of 4 grams of fiber is used in the calculation. In other words, if the actual dietary figure is less than 4 this figure is used, however, where the figure is greater than 4 then 4 is used.
Here are just some examples of the points assigned to particular foods:
*Source: http://internationalweightwatchers.info/
| Food | Calories | Fat (g) | Carbohydrates | Fiber | Points |
| Medium Fries | 450 | 22 | 57 | 5 | 10 |
| Cheeseburger | 330 | 14 | 35 | 2 | 7 |
| Big Mac | 590 | 34 | 47 | 3 | 14 |
| Corn on the cob | 140 | 2 | 34 | 2 | 3 |
| Low-fat grilled chicken pasta | 873 | 8.9 | 134.3 | 10.3 | 17 |
| Low-fat Asian chicken salad | 714 | 9 | 121 | 9.6 | 14 |
| Low-fat brownie sundae | 326 | 3.2 | 72 | 4.6 | 6 |
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