Many popular diet programs have been established with time and have suceed to convince people to get healthier and in better shape. Weight Watchers, a popular diet created by Jen Nidetch in the early 1960’s and has helped millions of people all over the world to lose weight. Even if the program seems successful, People are wondering if it actually works and what is the science behind this diet, and this is why I looked informations about this billions-dollar-making industry.
Every aspect of the Weight Watchers program is built on a foundation of sound science. When it comes to the food plans, the concept of energy density is key. This concept is a scientifically proven method for reducing calories.
"Energy density" is best described as the number of calories in a specific weight of food. For example, a food is…
• …high in energy density if it contains a large number of calories per ounce
• …low in energy density if it contains a small number of calories per ounce
On a calorie-for-calorie basis, low-energy-density foods provide greater eating satisfaction and are more filling than high-energy-density foods. Many studies have shown that people who focus on eating foods that are low in energy density eat fewer calories. And fewer calories = weight loss. These Low Energy Density Foods can be: High in water like soups, stew, fruits and vegetables, High in fiber like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, High in air like popcorn and puffed wheat, or Low in fat like lean meats and non-fat milk.
The brain's "full" signal is triggered by eating solid food or drinking milk or milk-based beverages. Drinking water, fruit juice and diet soda will quench a person's thirst and keep them hydrated, but it won't stave off hunger pangs.
Source: http://www.weightwatchers.ca/util/art/index_art.aspx?art_id=17171&tabnum=1&sc=3002&subnav=The+Plan
A single-center randomized trial at an academic medical center in Boston, Mass, of overweight or obese adults aged 22 to 72 years with known hypertension, dyslipidemia, or fasting hyperglycemia. Participants were enrolled starting July 18, 2000, and randomized to 4 popular diet groups (Atkins, Zone, Weight Watchers, and Ornish) until January 24, 2002. The Main Outcome Measures were a One-year changes in baseline weight and cardiac risk factors, and self-selected dietary adherence rates per self-report. Assuming no change from baseline for participants who discontinued the study, mean weight loss at 1 year was 4.8 kg for Atkins 6.0 kg for 4.9 kg for Weight Watchers and 7.3 kg for Ornish. Greater effects were observed in study completers. Each diet significantly reduced the low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio by approximately 10%, with no significant effects on blood pressure or glucose at 1 year. Amount of weight loss was associated with self-reported dietary adherence level but not with diet type. For each diet, decreasing levels of total/HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and insulin were significantly associated with weight loss with no significant difference between diets.
Source: http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/293/1/43.short
So after reading about the science behind weight watchers, it is clear that This popular diet modestly reduced body weight and several cardiac risk factors of its users after 1 year or rigorous work. Overall dietary adherence rates were low because it is such a hard program to follow, although increased adherence was associated with greater weight loss and cardiac risk factor reductions for each individual. So, Weight Watchers does work, it will make the participant lose weight and be healthier, but according to researches, considerable results will only show on a long term basis, after at least a year.
Frederique Joncas
jama.ama-assn.org/content/293/1/43.full
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