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While there are no guarantees in life, WW (formerly called Weight Watchers) has a reputation as a sensible weight-loss program that, if followed, works. Its many devotees have found success with an eating plan that claims you can lose one to two pounds a week, which is considered to be a healthy rate of weight loss.
The program started quite simply in the early ‘60s when housewife and founder Jean Nidetch invited friends to her home in Queens, New York, once a week. The topic? How to lose weight. What began with one woman’s quest to slim down turned into a world-renowned weight-loss plan, developed by health and nutrition experts, that has helped millions of people shed unwanted pounds—and maintain their weight loss. Here’s how it works.
Sources: Ahern AL, Wheeler GM, Aveyard P, Boyland... + 11
- Ahern AL, Wheeler GM, Aveyard P, Boyland EJ, et al. Extended and standard duration weight-loss programme referrals for adults in primary care (WRAP): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2017; 389(10085), 2214-2225.
- WW/WeightWatchers. 16 Simple Weight-Loss Tips From People Who’ve Lost More Than 100 Pounds. Page last reviewed: February 6, 2019.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Losing Weight. Page last reviewed: September 19, 2022.
- WW/WeightWatchers. About Us History & Philosophy. Page last reviewed: n.d.
- WW/WeightWatchers. WW Points system explained.
- WW/WeightWatchers. Everything you need to know about Exercising on PersonalPoints. Page last reviewed November 29, 2018.
- WW/WeightWatchers. How to Sync Your Fitness Device to Automatically Track Activity on the WW App. Page last reviewed September 26, 2018.
- WW/WeightWatchers. Meet your support squad. Page last reviewed: December 1, 2017.
- WW/WeightWatchers. What happens at a WW Workshop? Page last reviewed: January 11, 2018.
- Patel ML, Hopkins CM, Brooks TL, et al. Comparing self-monitoring strategies for weight loss in a smartphone app: randomized controlled trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. 2019;7(2), e12209.
- WW/WeightWatchers. How to Use the WW App. Page last reviewed: n.d.
- WW/WeightWatchers. How to Create a Meal and Build a Recipe in the WW App. Page last reviewed: December 16, 2019.
