"PointsPlus" replaces the popular "POINTS program, which has been in use for over a decade.
"Our new PointsPlus program is based on the latest scientific research and is designed to guide people to foods that are nutrient dense and highly satisfying, ensuring they will make healthful decisions, have successful weight loss and learn to keep their weight off long-term," said Karen Miller-Kovach, chief scientific officer, Weight Watchers International, Inc.
The "POINTS" system assigned every food a "point" value based on calories, fat, and fiber. While those components still play a large role in the new "PointsPlus" formula, now protein and carbohydrates are factored in, along with how hard the body works to process them (conversion cost) as well their respective eating satisfaction (satiety).
So, it used to be that a 100-calorie bag of cookies and a banana were the same point value (2). Now, the cookies are still two points, but the banana is zero.
In fact, all fresh fruits and most vegetables now have zero "PointsPlus" values. (Now there's no excuse to avoid them.)
There are also "Power Foods," an element Weight Watchers hopes will provide members an easy way to identify the best food choices among similar foods -- for example, foods with higher eating satisfaction, lower sugar, lower sodium, healthier fat and more fiber.
Weight Watchers said they hope the new plan will educate and encourage people to favor foods the body works harder to convert into energy, resulting in fewer net calories absorbed, focus on foods that keep them fuller longer, eat more natural, unprocessed foods, and still feel able to allow for occasional indulgences.
Despite the new plan and features, the fundamentals of Weight Watchers -- weight loss built on healthy eating, physical activity, behavior modification and support -- stay the same.
"Research shows that after following the Weight Watchers program, we've seen improvements in healthy eating habits, successful weight loss and even changes in peoples' innate response to hunger and food -- ultimately aiding in long-term weight loss success," said Miller-Kovach.
Weight Watchers said the "PointsPlus" program was tested in a rigorous, independent clinical trial and beta-tested by thousands of people across the United States who not only lost weight but reported feeling healthier and more satisfied, cut back on energy dense, processed foods and ate more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
"We are confident that PointsPlus is the best program Weight Watchers has ever offered not only to help Americans lose weight and make smarter food choices but also to combat the nation's growing obesity epidemic," said David Kirchhoff, president and CEO of Weight Watchers International, Inc.
"We are changing the way Americans view calories and select their food. Our new PointsPlus program will not only deliver weight loss success, it will help transform America's eating habits and the way we make our food choices."
