Everything you ever wanted to know about WW (Weight Watchers)

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.