Weight Watchers: Falling Out of Favor?

WW should put some more resources into their website. It's really great. I use the online-only program (no meetings). The tools are good, the recipe search is very handy, and the community message boards are teeming with folks sharing tips, encouragement, and advice. But it's looked almost exactly the same since I first joined WW in 2000. Then they can attract the online-only market.

As a 3+ year member of WW who's lost over 100 pounds, and who both goes to meetings and uses the online tools, I say a resounding NO!! :)

WW meetings have been around for over 40 years, and meetings are key to the Weight Watchers program. The support provided at meetings is one of the things that makes WW different from all the other programs. The meetings I attend are almost always full, and this topic comes up frequently, and all the members I know agree that it's the meetings that keep us successful and motivated.

I liken it to AA. AA would not be the same without meetings. Sure, they could start a website (maybe they already have) where people can get the same info online, but it's the support of the people that keep AA going strong.

Yes, there are many, many people who are successful in using just the online version of WW (or other programs) and I applaud them for it. But, I attribute that to the fact that there is no one diet that works for everyone. Every body has different needs and preferences. WW meetings are going to work for everyone. In fact, I frequently apply techniques and tips from other diets and programs I've read about to my own efforts, so I can't even say my whole success is due to WW alone. But, they do work for many.

WW is a smart business. They know that in order to survive in the world today, they must change with the times, which means adding things like the online program. But, that doesn't mean that they have to get rid of what works and has been working for so long. They're just expanding, as most successful businesses do.

And, I agree that the online program doesn't get updated as much. I think that's because they do focus most of their time and money on the traditional program. That is, and I believe always will be, their roots.

Online weight loss programs are increasing easy for people in todays day and age. Not only is it easy to stay in your own house but not having to go to all these meeting that take your time. Everything at your figure tips I believe is the absolute best methods for weight loss.

Sorry, I meant to say that WW meetings are NOT going to work for everyone!

I have no doubt that WW meetings have a positive influence on peoples lives. there is no reason why the offline diet world cannot exist with the online diet world. There both valid social support networks and therefore dieters gain from associations to both.

I did the WW program without the meetings (I couldn't afford them) and yeah, it was probably a bit harder. I did have a large support group though. It helped that my parents were on it the same time I was...we had "mini meetings" every week (I was living on campus at the time, so I'd see my folks every weekend or so) to talk about our progress and discuss things. Plus, I had lots of friends that were very encouraging.

I think the WW program is an excellent program and it really has been evolving with the times and the nutritional data that keeps being discovered. I think their website is a tad outdated though. Once they redo it and make it a LOT more interactive (and possibly free, although I doubt it) I think they could see a big surge in membership.

Weight watchers mmeting has a 28% success rate and I think weight watchers is one of the better choices.
They need a program that targets men like a weekly wi but online battles with other guys more like friendly support group competitions.
They also need more WW tools on line. I would like online meatings for suscribers I would pay extra for that.
I would also like three diff plans core, flex and maybe a part point flex. Not eveyone would like part points but some of us really want it.

This is all part of a growing worldwide trend called "cocooning".

Because of the internet, many of us can now work from home, whether connected to our office, or run a home business.

We have our grocery shopping delivered; we communicate with friends online; we develop global friendships; we order electrical items online from our local electrical shop (cheaper and more convenient); we order furniture, fragrance and flowers online; we have streaming video exercise workouts available so we don't need to go to the gym, and also a proliferation of home exercise equipment now available. We have our fast food delivered, instead of eating out.

We are spending more money on our houses (after all we are there longer)- buying more expensive furniture and fittings. We are more likely, in this day and age, to have cleaners to keep our expensive F&F in good condition - or should I say, to look after our cocoon?

I think we are now at the stage of internet development that we no longer NEED to move out of our houses - for work, leisure or shopping.

Businesses are moving fast into this direction and the ones who don't will be left behind. The support systems that WW is so famed for (at meetings) is now available online, and generally free (check out SparkPeople or Peer Trainer).

It will be interesting to follow the fate of WW classes and similar slimming club classes in the future. I think there is still a need for them, although this will change over time as more people get regular access to the internet.

Angie

PS Will the rising price of petrol accelerate this trend? At £4 per gallon in the UK (that about US $7.6 a gallon) we can't afford to go out! Perhaps thats the problem!

To each, their own.

For me, I think face to face contact would be most effective. But because of time and money, online will have to do.

I've long been an admirer of Weight Watchers, as I have know quite a few people whose lives have been changed for the better by the program.
Unfortunately, there are many of us who can't afford for one reaon or another, to pay the fees for clubs and what have you. I've managed to lose weight without them, but I feel that the support group would have been helpful. I hope they survive.

I have lost over 100 lbs. The first 20 was with eDiets.com and the other 80+ was with Weight Watchers -- both meetings and their on-line support. The magic in Weight Watchers is in the two basics:
1) the meeting: nothing, but nothing beats the meeting. The support of peers, the interaction, the knowledge of the leader, the tricks you pick up, etc., etc. cannot be gotten anywhere else.
2) the point system: turns a "diet" into a lifestyle. Fast and easy and makes "dieting" not feel at all like a diet. Enables you to basically eat what you want, as long as you purchase it with your points. Easy to live with and no deprivation with this system!
I think Weight Watchers is losing its grip for a couple of reasons including the fragmentation of the diet market and poor advertising and marketing. In the U.S. the Jenny Craig advertising with spokesperson Kirstie Ally is brilliant and every person it lures to Jenny Craig is a loss for Weight Watchers.

The thing is that you can join overeaters anonymous for free and get meetings any time you want them. oa.org is probably eroding the program, all in all.

I am a Weight Wathchers leader and have been a member for almost a year. I lost 63 pounds and have never felt healthier. I became a leader because I feel the progam, in particular the meetings, are so helpful and beneficial to a successful weight loss program. You just cannot replace the people who support you at the meetings with a computer monitor!

As a dutch WW member I slightly disagree with you Michelle. I joined WW for the first time about 4 years ago. I had a great WW leader and lost a lot of weight. The second time I joined, about 2 years ago, because of gaining weight due to medication, I got a new group leader. And she was irritating as hell. Shouted through the whole room, when my weight wasn't down and did that to a lot of other persons. That was my main reason to quit WW meetings. I don't want to be judged by others if I have had a bad week. Now I joined WW by mail, and stick to the programm myself. If I have a bad week, I only answer to myself and not to some WW leader. One of my collegues joined me as well, and now together we plan to lose more weight.

This is an interesting discussion about Peertrainer and Weight Watchers by people who use both or have used both.

I joined WW almost 2 years ago.I lost 69 lbs in the first 6 months, then hit a major plateau. I kept up with it, lost a few more, but then gained back 19 lbs. All I can figure is that my body got used to the way I was eating. After a few months of being careful so that I dont go back over 200, I have started WW again. Hope I can do the same as I did before, as I only have 50 more to go...And yes, I was exercising, changed that as well. Now I am doing a combination of things, never the same workout. But I will walk everyday...Good luck everyone with your weight loss...

Considering that WW started with an idea from AA, it's likely that if members followed the AA principles the WW groups would be more of a success. Dues? None. Membership fees? None. Voluntary contributions? As able. Working with others? Necessary for our survival. Back to principles first, enough of the business approach.

I went to WW meetings for the first 13 months that I was on the program. I had lost 52 lbs and then ended up in the middle of a dreaded plateau. UGH!

Because of the insanely rising gas and food prices I decided to give up my weekly pass and switch to WW online.

I really did enjoy my meetings. It was full of great people, but, I was driving 50 miles round trip to get there. It was getting expensive!! (I was also getting jaded seeing everyone else getting rewards. lol sad but true.)

Well, It's been 2 months since I've gone completely online and I've broken my plateau 3 weeks ago. I'm on my way down again. This time my meetings are 24/7 on the net for half the price and no extra gas!