Weight Watcher POINTS® are a food intake tracking system used by the weight loss organization of Weight Watchers®. Weight Watchers® was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1963 by Jean Nidetch and is now located in over 20 countries in the world. Members of Weight Watchers® have the choice to lose weight by following one of two different eating plans. The Core Plan involves eating from a list of healthy foods while the Flex Plan requires tracking food intake by counting points.
Counting Weight Watcher POINTS® is very similar to counting calories, however, Weight Watcher POINTS® include the nutritional value of a food and the energy consumed. Where as a calorie is only a measure of energy consumed or spent. More specifically, a Weight Watcher POINTS® value takes into account grams of fiber, grams of fat and calories consumed when referring to food. When considering activities, a Weight Watcher POINT® is a measure of used energy.
Foods lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber allow members to eat the most food while consuming the least amount of points for that amount of food. Fatty foods, such as a fast-food cheeseburger, and high-calorie, low-fat and low-fiber foods, such as pasta or white bread, have the highest point values, which should discourage a Weight Watchers® member from eating them.
When an individual joins Weight Watchers®, a daily Weight Watcher POINTS® allowance is assigned to them based on their starting weight. As weight is lost by a member, the Weight Watcher POINTS® allowance is decreased. POINT® values range approximately from 18 POINTS® per day to 35 POINTS® per day depending on the member’s weight. There is also an additional 35 Flex POINTS® per week that can be used all at once for a special occasion or spread out throughout the week. However, if these Flex POINTS® aren’t used, they do not carry over to the next week.
When Weight Watchers® members add movement and activity to their lives, a POINTS® value is assigned to every activity. For example, one hour of walking will allow a Weight Watcher’s member to add an additional number of POINTS® to their day for consumption. Activity POINTS® do not have to be earned from a formal exercise program. Members may earn POINTS® by doing every day things like gardening, vacuuming or chasing after a toddler. It is important to remember that a Weight Watcher POINT® value for activity takes into account the intensity of the activity. Running versus walking will earn more activity POINTS® and a brisk walk versus a leisurely stroll will earn more POINTS®.