Does It Work For Weight Loss
Yes, WW does appear to be effective for weight loss.
Several studies have found that WW helps people lose weight. However, its important to note that WW funded many of these studies directly or indirectly, which may have influenced results .
In one WW-funded study of 279 people, researchers found that those using the WW program lost more than double the weight of a control group in 3 months. The WW participants were also more likely to have maintained their weight loss 1 year later .
Another large WW-funded study including over 29,000 people found that, on average, participants lost about 6 pounds in 12 weeks. Approximately two-thirds of participants were able to lose at least 5% of their body weight .
Summary
WW is a paid diet program based on the principles of moderation and portion control. It uses a points-based system to encourage healthier diet choices. It appears to be effective for weight loss, though WW funded many of the studies.
Weight Loss Is Key In Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
Positive lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and being more physically active, not only lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes but also improve your overall well-being.
Research shows that WW can help those with prediabetes lose a significant amount of weight and improve blood sugar control.
It Starts With Finding A Way To Eat Fewer Calories Than You Need
A calorie is a unit of energy, which is in the food and drink we consume. Your body uses energy for everything we do from breathing and sleeping to exercising. When you eat, youre replacing the energy youve used, which helps you to maintain a healthy weight.
As a general guide, government recommendations are that men need around 2,500kcal a day to maintain a healthy weight, and women need around 2,000kcal a day. But most people need different amounts of calories based on how their bodies work, how active they are and any weight management goals.
Weve put together some 7-day meal plans to help you lose weight. They’re all clinically approved, nutritionally balanced, calorie and carb counted, and can help if you want to lose weight:
- Mediterranean diet plan
- Lower-calorie diet plans, like 1,200 or 1,500 calories a day
Evidence shows that the best approach is the one that youre likely to stick to. So the key is to find a plan that you enjoy and fits in with the rest of your life. Everyones different and what works for some may not for others.
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Clean Eating Diabetic Friendly Weight Watcher Friendly Menu Plan 1
Clean Eating, Diabetic Friendly, Weight Watcher Friendly Menu Plan 1-27-13 Happy Sunday!! Im looking forward to my week ahead are you? Weve got a field trip planned this week to the Boston Museum of Science! Love me some field trips! And now that my youngest is older, not having to use a stroller in crowded places is a blessing! The hubby and I will also get a date night on Friday since the karate school my oldest attends has a bring a friend or sibling night once a month so parents can go out! Only $5 per kid which is a very cheap fee, cheaper than getting a babysitter, whoohoo! So heres what I came up with for our week, taking into account well be leaving early on Thursday to head to Boston so crock pot it is! I also still have a ton of cooked turkey breast in my freezer and since the kiddies LOVED my new kale rice turkey soup, well.. course Im making it again and a pot pie they loved as a well!Continue reading > >
How It Is Different From The Original Weight Watchers Program

In the past, members may have used the MyWW Blue, Green, or Purple plans but now all members will move to the PP program.
While the previous Weight Watchers programs were suitable for diabetics, they were general in approach. Now diabetic members will have a system that is specific to their needs and provides optimal blood sugar control and healthier eating habits.
Check out our 3 day diet meal plan which is suitable for people with diabetes.
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How To Start A Diabetic Diet
If you have diabetes, starting a new diet might sound daunting. However, it can be easier than it seems. The key is planning ahead to ensure healthy meals that will keep your blood sugar levels in check.
The CDC also recommends taking the following steps when developing an eating plan :
- Keep track of your carbohydrates and set a limit of carbs for each meal. Your doctor or a registered dietitian can help determine the right amount for you and your needs.
- Use the plate method and fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein and one quarter with carbs.
- Keep an eye on portion sizes, and remember they often differ from the serving sizes listed on the label.
Ww Guidelines For Preventing Diabetes
Being on WW does not require eating or avoiding specific foods. You can eat whatever you like, as long as you stay within your individual points parameters.
If you have prediabetes, though, you also need to keep an eye on your carb intake. WW doesn’t have a system for counting carbs, but it does provide smart food choice guidelines for members who are prediabetic or have type 2 diabetes.
What to Eat | |
---|---|
Non-starchy veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens, mushrooms, onions | Starchy veggies such as potatoes, plantains, parsnips, pumpkin, squash, beans, legumes |
Low-glycemic fruitssuch as apples, berries, plum, grapefruit, pears | High-glycemic fruitssuch as pineapple, banana, watermelon, pineapples |
Lean proteinsuch as skinless chicken, fish, egg whites, tofu | High-carb foodssuch as baked goods, white bread, pasta |
Whole grains such as wild and brown rice, quinoa, oats, millet, buckwheat noodles | Sugary beveragessuch as fruit drinks and sugar-sweetened soft drinks |
They also provide some healthy eating tips:
- Be aware of portion sizes. Learn how to estimate portion size by sight so you don’t have to measure everything.
- Variety is important. Try not to eat too much of any one type of food.
- Eat regularly. Space meals evenly and never skip meals.
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What Are The New Myww+ Plans
One of the biggest changes with the new myWW+ program is the addition of three plan options.
The myWW+ program recognizes that while certain individuals need extra accountability, others do better with more flexibility. So, it offers three plans Green, Blue, and Purple that differ in the number of allotted SmartPoints and ZeroPoint foods.
SmartPoints are point values assigned to foods based on their nutritional content. More nutritious foods, like fish and vegetables, are assigned fewer points than more heavily processed foods, like candy and soda.
While no foods are off-limits, all plan groups recommend that you stay at or below your SmartPoints budget in order to lose weight, if thats your goal.
ZeroPoint foods are ones that dont count toward your SmartPoints budget. The number and types of foods considered to be ZeroPoint foods depends on the plan you choose.
Heres how the three plans compare:
Green |
---|
seafood and shellfishsome whole grains |
While the Green plan is designed for people who do better with stricter guidelines, the Blue and Purple plans encourage users to focus on making healthier food choices, rather than on counting points.
Is There A Specific Diabetes Program
Historically, some employer health plans offered specific Weight Watchers for diabetes programs for employees with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Through these programs, eligible employees could enroll in Weight Watchers and receive additional support from a certified diabetes educator a healthcare professional trained to counsel those with type 2 diabetes.
While some employers may still offer this benefit, no official Weight Watchers for diabetes program is currently available for the general public.
Instead, those with type 2 diabetes simply sign up for myWW like any other member by using the self-assessment tool.
Weight Watchers does offer additional educational materials for members with type 2 diabetes. Still, these resources arent meant to replace the recommendations made by your doctor or registered dietitian .
Summary
While Weight Watchers doesnt offer a specific program for diabetes, the company provides members who have type 2 diabetes with additional educational materials. The program isnt a replacement for care from a qualified healthcare provider.
Weight Watchers encourages weight loss by counting SmartPoints, which are assigned to foods and beverages based on their calorie, saturated fat, sugar, and protein content.
There are also ZeroPoint foods, which dont count toward your daily SmartPoints budget.
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The Ww Personal Points Plan For People With Diabetes
With the launch of the new WW Personal Points Program in November of 2021, WW has introduced a specific diabetic-friendly program for Type 2 diabetics.
Heres how it works.
When you join WW, you will be invited to take a personalized food assessment quiz. The first question you will be asked is if you are diabetic. When you indicate yes that you are diabetic, the WW engine tailors the weight-loss program to fit your specific low carb and high protein needs.
Heres how the WW diabetic program differs from other WW programs:
- Diabetic members do not have zero point fruits.
- Members who have diabetes do not have the choice of zero point carbs, such as oatmeal, potatoes, or whole wheat pasta.
- Instead, members have a wider selection of zero point protein servings such as chicken and turkey breast, eggs, or non-fat Greek yogurt. You may also choose avocado as a zero point option.
- Alternately, WW diabetic members may choose to have a higher number of daily points and fewer zero point foods.
All of these choices encourage W W members who have diabetes or prediabetes to make realistic lifestyle changes that include lower carbohydrates, lean proteins and foods with fiber and whole grains.
Members also have access to all the benefits that every WW members enjoys including:
- WW app
Weight Is A Sensitive Issue For Many People And Getting To An Ideal Healthy Weight Is Easier Said Than Done But When You Have Diabetes There Are Huge Benefits To Losing Weight If You’re Carrying Extra Weight
Youll have more energy and youll reduce your risk of serious complications like heart disease and stroke. Losing weight can help with your diabetes control too. And if you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight could even mean going into diabetes remission.
But millions of people with diabetes find keeping to a healthy weight a huge struggle. You’re not alone in this, there’s support out there to help a good first step is to ask your healthcare team for help and advice.
On this page:
- Weight loss surgery.
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Ww Helps You Track Your Eating Habits
When it comes to diabetes, you need to be mindful of how many calories you are consuming. By using WW to track what you are eating, you can see roughly where you are at with your calorie counts. By decreasing the amount of calories you consume each day, you will lose weight. On the other hand, you must be careful not to cut them too much or you will cause your body to enter starvation mode. This causes your blood sugar to spike and retain fat instead of losing it.
Healthline Diet Score: 425 Out Of 5

WW is one of the most popular weight loss programs in the world. Millions of people including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey have joined it, hoping to drop pounds.
In 2020, the company launched its latest program, called myWW+, which is designed to provide even more flexibility and personalization than the original WW.
This article reviews how the myWW+ program works, so you can decide whether its the right weight loss solution for you.
Diet review scorecard
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What Is Ww Diabetes Prevention Plan
The WW Diabetes prevention plan is all about creating a specialized approach to staying healthy for those suffering from diabetes.
It is a life-altering condition and one that makes it difficult to eat well. A lot of people lose weight and never eat the way they are supposed to. This is not healthy and it is the last thing a person with diabetes should be doing.
This is why WW has taken the time to put together specialized plans to help prevent diabetes. These are plans that are made with an aim towards making sure members eat properly.
- Food and Activity Tracking
Level Of Effort: Medium
WW is designed to make it easier to change your habits for the long term. It’s flexible enough that you can adapt it to any diet or lifestyle. Youll tweak your eating and habits, even ones youve had for years, and create new ones.
How much effort it takes depends on how much youll have to change your habits and how willing you are to make those changes.
Cooking and shopping. Expect to learn how to shop, cook healthy foods, and dine out in ways that support your weight loss goal without skimping on taste or needing to buy unusual foods.
Packaged foods or meals. Not required.
In-person meetings. Optional.
Exercise. After you answer some questions about your fitness when you sign up, WW PersonalPoints recommends daily and weekly activity goals for you. As mentioned, you can earn points for working more movement or exercise into your day, and those points get added to your weekly budget. High-intensity workouts or strength training sessions earn you the most points, but all movement — even housecleaning — counts.
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Using Smart Points For Carbohydrates
While carbohydrates need to be moderated for people with diabetes, that doesnt mean they cant be part of a healthy diet.
Here are some examples of points for carbohydrates on the WW Personalized Plan for Diabetics:
- Whole wheat bread 2 points for 1 slice
- Reduced-calorie whole wheat bread 1 point for 1 slice
- Sourdough bread 2 points for 1 medium slice
- Cooked whole wheat pasta 3 points for 1 cup
- Cooked elbow pasta 5 points for 1 cup
- Oatmeal, 4 points for 1 cup, cooked
- Plain baked potato 4 points for 1 medium
- Banana 3 points for 1 medium
- Strawberries 1 point for 1 cup raw
- Angelfood cake 5 points for 1 piece
- Homemade cake with icing 17 points for 1 piece
- Popchips 3 points for 1 snack bag
Remember to choose whole grains, fruits, and beans when possible and limit refined grains and sugar-filled desserts to special occasions.
Tips To Stay On Track
Everyone has a different mentality about weight loss. Either you need to be strict and quit junk food cold-turkey or you need something to look forward to so you can stay motivated.
The good news is that science now backs the efficiency of taking a cheat day. Researchers found that dieters who allowed themselves a cheat day once a week lost more weight than dieters who were strict.
The reason why cheat days help is that planning an indulgent day helped stop dieters from making poor choices throughout the rest of the week.
Other dieters who were strict felt deprived and gave in to too many temptations. Additionally, once they made one mistake, it was easier to think that they had reversed their hard work. Feeling defeated can lead to unhealthy binges.
Although you can definitely lose weight by being strict, you have to have superhuman willpower. Most people need a little food that may be bad for the body but is good for their soul.
If youre looking for a treat every now and then to reward your progress, try making a homemade, sugar-free dessert.
Now that Weight Watchers freestyle program allows rollover points for cheat days, you can still plan your favorite Friday pizza nights or Sunday brunches.
Try following these other helpful dieting tips:
*Update: WW has changed the names of their plans People seem kind of annoyed at the name change
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Foods To Eat And Foods To Avoid
On both programs, no foods are completely off-limits. Instead, the WW points system and Noom color-coding system are designed to help you choose the most filling and nutritious foods that are also the lowest in calories.
Some of the foods that are zero points for certain WW groups or the green plan on the Noom program include:
- Protein: egg whites, tofu
- Carbs:whole grains, sweet potatoes
- Fruits: apples, bananas, berries, tomato, watermelon
- Vegetables: broccoli, zucchini, salad greens, spinach, carrots, bell peppers, onion
- Fats: none
- Dairy: nonfat cheese, skim or plant-based milk, nonfat yogurt
However, remember that on the WW green plan, the only zero-point foods are fruits and non-starchy vegetables. Likewise, the zero-point food list is slightly more restrictive for the blue plan.
These foods would only be zero-point foods on the purple plan, but they would be low in points on the other plans.
On the other hand, foods that are high in WW points for all groups or may fall into the red category on Noom include:
- Protein: bacon, sausage, fried meats, hamburgers, nuts, and seeds
- Carbs: cakes, cookies, pastries, potato chips, french fries
- Dairy: ice cream, full fat milk or yogurt, full fat cheese
Summary
No foods are off-limits on either program, but non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins like egg whites and tofu are low in points or zero points on WW and green on Noom.