Weight Watchers is an international company specializing in dieting and weight maintenance.
It was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1963 and now operates in some 30 countries around the world.
The company defines a minimum weight requirement (based on a member's height) to protect against anorexia.
The member may choose a target weight, perhaps determined in consultation with his or her doctor.
When members reach their target weight, they move on to the maintenance stage.
Over a period of six weeks, they learn to maintain their target weight.
Then they become "Lifetime" members.
Lifetime members must weigh themselves at least once a month.
Members who weigh more than 2 pounds (0.
91 kg) above their target weight are charged the weekly fee until they return to their target weight range.
Lifetime members who remain within that range may attend weekly meetings for free.
The Weight Watchers Core Plan classifies certain types of food as "core".
These foods are healthy foods from all food groups, including fruits, vegetables, fat-free dairy, lean meats, and whole grains.
Dieters may eat such foods until they are satisfied, but not feeling full.
They do not have to weigh, measure, or track the core foods they eat.
They may also consume non-core foods, which are assigned the usual point values.
Participants are allotted up to 35 points per week for non-core foods.
By exercising, participants also earn additional points that can be spent on non-core foods.
Flex Plan dieters are assigned a number of points each day depending on their gender, height, current weight, age, and level of physical activity.
Food servings are assigned points and dieters must not go over budget.
As with the Core Plan by exercising they can increase their points.
They also get 35 flex points per week that may be used at any time.
This diet is in contrast to diets such as the South Beach diet or the Atkins diet which forbid some foods and allows others in any desired quantity.
While this plan offers flexibility it requires extensive record keeping.
In fact new members are given a cardboard slide rule to help them calculate the points.
Weight Watchers sells a book that lists thousands of foods so dieters can still calculate their points when they go out to eat.
Many people find that the weekly meetings with other dieters are a major plus of this diet.
The meetings help them stay focused and sometimes everybody goes out and shares pizza and beer.
If you are interested, check with the company to find out about fees and the occasional promotion.
And brush up on your arithmetic.