(CNN) — If you’re looking to break a bad habit — or form a new one — science shows you’re more likely to stick to it if you make the change on a Monday.
Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that this announcement came on a Monday morning:
“Oprah Winfrey and Weight Watchers International, Inc. have joined together in a groundbreaking partnership to inspire people around the world to lead a healthier and more fulfilling life.”
“Weight Watchers has given me the tools I need to begin to make the lasting shift that I and so many of us who are struggling with weight loss have longed for,” said Winfrey in the press release. “I believe in the program so much I decided to invest in the company and partner in its evolution.”
“We are expanding our purpose from focusing on weight loss alone to more broadly helping people live a healthier, happier life,” said Weight Watchers President and CEO Jim Chambers, in the statement. “We believe that (Oprah’s) remarkable ability to connect and inspire people to realize their full potential is uniquely complimentary to our powerful community, extraordinary coaches and proven approach.”
History of Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers has been a powerful and effective tool in the fight against obesity since the program was founded in 1963 by Jean Nidetch, a self-described “overweight housewife obsessed with cookies.
After struggling to lose weight for years, Nidetch began hosting weekly meetings at her home with friends, to discuss their difficulties with dieting and exercise.
“Compulsive eating is an emotional problem,” Nidetch told Time magazine in 1972, “and we use an emotional approach to its solution.”
Abiding by her philosophy — “It’s choice, not chance, that determines your destiny.” — Nidetch managed to lose more than 70 pounds, and keep it off.
According to its latest earnings release, Weight Watchers currently has 2.8 million active subscribers worldwide, down from 3.4 million one year ago.
How does Weight Watchers measure up?
Weight Watchers works using a “points” system, where foods are scored based on protein, carb, fat and fiber content. Foods that are more nutrient-dense — the ones that keep you fuller longer — “cost” the least. The number of points you’re allotted per day varies based on your age, height, weight and weight loss or weight management goals.
When U.S. News and World Report recently ranked 35 of the most popular diets, Weight Watchers tied for third place (alongside the Mayo Clinic Diet and Mediterranean Diet; and just below the DASH Diet and TLC Diet).
U.S. News called Weight Watchers a “smart and effective” diet, highlighting the upside that you can eat what you want and that no foods are off-limits. Downsides include the program’s price and tedious point tallying.
Bottom line: “It’s livable,” said Dr. Melina Jampolis, a physician-nutrition specialist, who is not in any way affiliated with Weight Watchers. “With restaurants and holidays and parties, you have the tools to handle any eating occasion.”
“It’s based in real life, real food, real living,” said Gary Foster, Weight Watchers’ Chief Scientific Officer. “We’re not a brand about exclusion, saying ‘you must eat this’ and ‘you can’t eat that.’ You’re in charge of what’s in and what’s out.”
If you restrict eating to certain foods or certain times of the day, said Foster, you might get people to eat less, but the results are short lived. They’ll put the weight right back on.
“A comprehensive approach that’s more livable is really key,” said Jampolis.
“Broadly, reality not meeting expectations is what trips people up,” said Foster. “The most common example is when people have unrealistic notions of what the weight loss journey will be — that they’ll lose the same amount (of weight) every single week, or eat perfectly every single day. Life gets in the way. Teaching people a different mindset around that and being aware of your thinking style is key. ‘All or none’ is not good for weight, relationships or work performance.”
“The other thing is to not be so myopically focused on the scale,” said Foster. “It’s a piece of metal that gives you a number and is fraught with disappointment. It’s not a good measure in the short term. It’s better over the long term. Non-scale victories like looking better, feeling better, fitting into a smaller jean size” are far more important milestones.
The Oprah Effect
On November 15, 1988, Oprah opened an episode of her show titled “Diet Dreams Come True” by revealing her new slim figure. She showed — not just told — her audience how much weight she lost by wheeling 67 pounds of fat on stage in a bright red Radio Flyer wagon.
“This has been the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life,” Winfrey said. “Those of you who are starting dieting — this is what 67 pounds of fat looks like. … It’s amazing to me that I can’t lift it, but I used to carry it around every day. When you talk about making yourself the best you can be, I’m glad I did this for my heart, because my poor heart had to send blood to all of this. It’s shocking to me.”
The episode was the highest rated in the show’s history.
“Her journey has been so challenging and public with weight,” said Jampolis. I think as far as celebrity endorsements go, she has the potential to be more authentic than many, because people know her struggle and because she’s not looking for a quick fix.”
“Oprah has all the money in the word and she’s still had a life-long battle with her weight,” said Jampolis. “If anyone can connect with and understand the consumer, it’s her.”
What’s next for Weight Watchers?
“In the end, weight loss isn’t what people are pursuing anymore,” said Foster. “People are no longer saying … ‘I want to lose 20 pounds.’ They say, ‘What I’m after is a healthier, happier life.'”
That is to say, weight is now a metric instead of the metric.
“Dealing with choice and balance is key to long-term success,” said Jampolis. “Just focusing on food is only a small part of the equation. Psychologically, there’s more than just being at a healthy weight.”
“For most people, they have a really good general sense of what they should do. Everyone knows how to do it — it’s why you don’t do it. As a nation, we’re self-medicating a lot with food.”
Weight Watchers has yet to release the specifics of its overhaul. But we know Winfrey will not only be a member and part owner (the deal involved her buying a 10% stake in the company), but she will also become a board member and adviser.
“Winfrey will bring insight and strategy to program development and execution that reflects not only her own experiences, but also her unique ability to inspire and connect people to live their best lives,” according to the press release.
Jampolis applauds Weight Watchers’ broader focus on health and happiness.
“Most weight-loss doctors and dieticians say it’s one of the strongest programs out there,” said Jampolis. “There’s a lot of positive potential. It’s a very good program that could potentially be made better with (Oprah’s) guidance.”
At the end of the day, you need to feel satiated on a basic hunger level. Beyond that, you need to feel satiated on a more cerebral level, she said.
It’s about letting yourself have the food, but more importantly the experiences, said Jampolis: “Happiness comes from sitting around the table with people you care about, enjoying some of your favorite dishes.”