Food Pyramid influences Weight Watchers

[adkpam]

You can read the whole article here:

http://www.weightwatchers.com/about/prs/wwi_template.aspx?GCMSID=1002801

but this is what WW has to say:

1971-1976 The Weight Watchers Food Plan continued to be refined to reflect emerging research in human nutrition. For example, new research on linoleic acid as an essential nutrient resulted in the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's) to the Weight Watchers Food Plan. The Weight Watchers Program Handbook began to provide new information about the importance of carbohydrates in a healthful diet. Weight Watchers increased the percentage of carbohydrates -- rice, potatoes and pasta -- in the Food Plan while lowering protein recommendations to reflect the increased awareness of the need for Americans to consume less saturated fat.

[K Walt]

Weight Watchers is a business. Period.

Right now, they feel they sell more memberships because they have the 'approval' of dieticians. So they suck up to whatever the dietician establishment is preaching.

But, as a business, they would base their diet on motor oil if they thought it would sell memberships.

And oddly enough, the LESS successful the plan, the better they do. I would guess about half their business is based on people who are joining AGAIN, either after failing, or re-gaining the weight.

That's where the money is, not in helping people lose weight permanently.

That colors everything they say.

[Zuleikaa]

I remember when you were only allowed two carb servings a day and 1 fruit on weight watchers. But you were allowed plenty of protein and lc veggies. No sugar was allowed. Now on that plan I lost and so did it's founder.

So the original WW plan was lc.

[Trinsdad]

Yup, and it will be again as soon as they realize they are losing money.

[Angeline]

I remember when you were only allowed two carb servings a day and 1 fruit on weight watchers. But you were allowed plenty of protein and lc veggies. No sugar was allowed. Now on that plan I lost and so did it's founder.

So the original WW plan was lc.

I still have their cookbook from that era. Their recipes are easily applicable to LC

[kyrasdad]

Yup, and it will be again as soon as they realize they are losing money.

Within a year, we'll probably see Weight Watchers do what Slim-Fast did and diversify to allow a low carb track and a "traditional" or low fat track. It makes sense from a business viewpoint for them to capitalize on the low carb market. There are all kinds of opportunities for them to brand low carb stuff as Weight Watchers, to enlist people who want to low carb but also want that weekly weigh-in and support group, etc.

In fact, a few months ago, there were some frozen Weight Watchers dinners at our local Wal Mart. Those dinners were all under 15 carbs, and all carried a "truth about low carb" blurb that kind of slammed it. BUT, the dinners were all low carb. I thought it was a kind of a subtle trial balloon. They attract the low carb eater by having the words on the box. Their higher carb offereings didn't have the low carb blurb.

They can and should do this. It won't kill the credibility of their other plan, since they can take a position that both plans work and that it's a personal choice based on your history.

As someone else mentioned, they'd prescribe motor oil if there were money in it. Well, there's money in low carb.

[dannysk]

The original WW program was the New York City Board of Health diet. Not really lc, but even carrots were restricted.
They are now (I believe) owned by Pillsbury, not a low carb company, and their program reflects it.

danny

[zipity]

They are now (I believe) owned by Pillsbury, not a low carb companyThey are "owned" by its shareholders. Heinz makes their food products (so says the packages here in the UK anyway). Its principal share holder is a SA company (http://www.weightwatchersinternational.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=wtw&script=410&layout=7&item_id=379876).

Was looking at the press release on their corporate site:
Weight Watchers Praises Medicare Declaration About Obesity (http://www.weightwatchersinternational.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=wtw&script=410&layout=7&item_id=596188)
Study Compares Diet Books By Atkins, Zone and Ornish and A Weight Watchers Cookbook (http://www.weightwatchersinternational.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=wtw&script=410&layout=7&item_id=468303)
The Truth About Carbs (http://www.weightwatchersinternational.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=wtw&script=410&layout=7&item_id=466097)

[BadgerGirl]

Anyone read the Atkins view on the pyramid:

http://atkins.com/Archive/2004/2/10-121449.html