A recent scientific study showed that overweight and obese adults who followed the Weight Watcher’s program lost more than twice as much weight than others who received periodic weight loss advice from a doctor. The yearlong study included 772 men and women in England, Australia and Germany in which patients who visited their doctor seeking weight loss advice were either randomly awarded a free 12 month membership to Weight Watchers or encouraged to visit their doctor once a month.
61% of the Weight Watcher group lost an average of 15 pounds, while 54% of group which visited their doctor once a month lost an average of 7 pounds. Michael Jensen, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, was not surprised by the results, stating that programs like Weight Watchers which stress accountability are more likely to produce effective results. He also stated that the results from the monthly doctor visits are lower because general practitioners are not fully dedicated weight loss specialists.
Never been to a Weight Watchers weekly meeting? Here is how it works. When you sign up for the program, Weight Watchers will set up a personalized weight loss program which gives a point value to every food you eat. Want to eat chocolate cake? Go ahead, but realize that you only have a certain amount of points you can consume per day and that cake will take up a huge chunk of that. The program also provides you with an exercise program that goes along with its diet portion. Probably the most effective part of Weight Watchers are the weekly meetings in which a local Weight Watchers professional is on hand to privately weigh you in, encourage you and provide answers to any questions you might have. Regular meetings with the same people provide a “group spirit” which has been shown to encourage more effective weight loss.
While Weight Watchers isn’t for everyone (it can cost up to $500 per year and the weekly meetings may not fit every schedule), this study makes a good point. Frequent accountability, coupled with a structured diet and exercise plan are more effective than merely setting a goal or getting advice from a doctor.