Are you a Weight Watcher

People who have made the decision to lose weight don't make it lightly. Often, it has been flitting around in the mind for years. Many have joined the Weight Watcher clubs.

It may even have been reached, acted upon and later abandoned as another fad diet bit the dust.

Then, a rogue photograph appears depicting you doing your best whale impression, or you are unexpectedly required to move quickly (perhaps during a fire drill while at work, where everyone sees you panting), and almost expire from the effort. Shamed into action once again

you decide that another attempt to shed weight will be worthwhile.

How does Weight Watchers operate?

The good news is that you need not do it on your own. A huge range of weight-loss programs exist today - from locally independent run clubs, to the multi-national organizations- all offering weight-loss plans to suit individual budgets and needs. A famous example is the Weight Watcher.

Arguably, one of the most successful of the large organizations is Weight Watcher.

Founded over 40 years ago by Jane Nedetch in a New York apartment, the small support group for friends has grown into the vastly successful international company that it is today.

By combining a program exercise and healthy eating with group support, Weight Watcher developed a 'partnership' approach to dieting which has since been emulated by many other weight-loss organizations in the world.

Weight Watcher Membership:

Members can join the organization for a fee of around $25-$30 after locating a local meeting venue via the internet or the local press.

During special promotion months, this membership fee is often waived, which are generally advertised in the media.

A weekly fee of around $10-$15 is paid at each meeting, although monthly and three-monthly packages can be bought in advance at a discounted rate.

Membership lapses if a member fails to attend meetings for four weeks. Members must pay for a missed meeting but if they have missed more than two, they need only pay for the first week missed and for the current week.

Each member is allowed to miss two meetings in the course of the year without having to pay.

After a member has reached an agreed 'goal weight' (within two lbs or one kilo) and maintained it for six weeks, he or she becomes a Life member and may attend future meetings free-of-charge, provided the goal weight is maintained and at least one meeting is attended each month.

Online membership is now available for those who cannot attend meetings or who live in a rural area. A monthly online membership costs around $44.

The Points System:

The dietary part of the Weight Watcher program works on a 'points' system. Every food is allocated a point value according to its sugar and fat content.

For example, an apple may be assigned one point, while a sausage may be valued at five. Most vegetables and salad ingredients are 'free' and can be eaten without penalty. Members are given a daily point allocation of around 18-22 points, depending on their current weight.

As long as the point value is factored into the daily point consumption, no food is forbidden. Points may be saved for later in a week to allow members to eat out.

Various exercises are also given a point value. Bonus points gained by being active, allow the member to save for later in the week, or may be spent on an extra treat to the value of the bonus on that day.

To prevent binge eating, starving and excessive exercising, there are ceilings on the number of points which can be saved or earned in any one week.

All members of Weight Watcher receive a points-value guide to the basic foods in Week One of the program.

The Meetings:

On joining Weight Watcher, the member's current weight and height are recorded in the 'passport' document, which holds each member's personal details for the duration of the program.

The member retains the passport and only has to produce it when being weighed. A general goal weight is then set in consultation with the group leader, based on healthy weight to height ratios.

When the member's weight lies within this ratio, a more specific goal can be set later.

The member receives the Week One support materials which included a weekly brochure containing a tracker (for recording food intake, exercise and points) a possible weekly menu, some words on the topic of the week and a Quickstart DVD ( a support DVD to be used during the first six weeks of the program).

The member then attends the weekly meeting during which the leader delivers a talk on the week's topic and members are invited to share their experiences, advice and questions.

Why is Weight Watcher so popular?

Many devotees of the organization will answer this in just one word: Flexibility.

The weight-loss plan which runs for 24 weeks can be tailored to meet a wide range of needs. The points system allows for total flexibility of menu. No food is compulsory or forbidden and the menus if used are written with busy lifestyles in mind.

Weight Watcher Meetings are also flexible; with members being able to attend meetings at other venues should they find themselves unable to get to their usual meeting.

Members are also free to choose the level of their involvement at these meetings. While some need the group support each week, many people opt to just 'weigh-in' then leave. Either is acceptable.

In addition, Weight Watcher offers a wide range of support materials: a points value guide to specific brands of foods, a Supermarket guide, the Eating-Out guide, a monthly Weight Watchers' magazine, WeightWatchers' own food products, cookbooks and scales.

Like any weight-loss program, the Weight Watcher system does have some drawbacks.

As it is run at a local level by leaders who have previously lost weight on the program, and current members who volunteer, the effectiveness of the support group is dependent on individual personalities.

If a new member has trouble fitting in with the existing group, he or she may choose not to return.

Some people may also argue that the points' system approach to weight control is a short term method and just one of many weight-loss options, although none of these other options are promoted to members.

Finally, for many people the weekly fee is too expensive, especially if the member does not like to attend the meetings. It does seem extravagant to spend $15 each week just to step on a pair of scales.

People are still flocking to join Weight Watcher and many similar weight-loss organizations across the globe regardless of these criticisms.

In today's world, weight-loss needs to be less about vanity and more about well being and health, with all the benefits of looking good 'thrown in'.