Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers has been evaluated in a number of clinical studies, and researchers conclude that it is an effective diet plan. This program encourages a sensible diet of healthy, ordinary foods, combined with exercise and a positive attitude. Weight Watchers is also flexible, reviewers say, which makes it easier to stick with, and its costs are reasonable, although the weekly fee can add up quickly. In-person group meetings and weigh-ins are the cornerstone of the Weight Watchers diet plan, but online meetings are also available if you don't like talking about your weight in public. The food plan demands strict calorie control, but does not require the purchase of prepackaged food. Critics of the plan say counting "points" doesn't necessarily teach dieters how to eat healthy in the long run, but overall, Weight Watchers has a much better long-term record than any other diet plan, including Slim-Fast (*Est. $40 per week for shakes/bars).

Weight Watchers is reviewed by numerous medical and general-interest publications, including ConsumerReports.org, The Journal of the American Medical Association, the British Medical Journal, Health magazine and WebMD.com. We also consulted user opinions of this plan on Viewpoints.com.