WeightWatchers 2003 Annual Report Download - page 10

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weight and to change their habits. Discussions on topics such as staying motivated, how to avoid
overeating and managing stress offer members valuable insight on how to stay on our program while
dealing with the realities of everyday life. Our U.S. members also currently learn ‘‘Tools for Living,’’ a
set of ten techniques to assist in handling the barriers to long-term weight loss. Our international
members learn similar principles and receive similar publications.
Healthful Eating
Our food plans allow our members to eat regular meals instead of pre-packaged meals. By giving
members the freedom to choose what to eat, our plans are flexible and adjustable to modern lifestyles.
In order to keep sound nutrition at the forefront of weight-loss science, our food plans are designed in
consultation with doctors and other scientific advisors. We continually strive to improve our methods by
periodically testing and introducing new features.
Our current food plans are based on the POINTS system, which assigns each food a POINTS value
based on its nutritional content. Members are given a range of POINTS values to use each day on
whatever combination of food they prefer so long as the total does not exceed the goal. While no food
is forbidden, our POINTS based plans encourage members to eat a wide variety of foods in amounts
that promote healthy weight loss. The POINTS plans help members choose foods that are low in fat,
high in complex carbohydrates and moderate in protein. We also provide our members with
information regarding good nutrition. For example, this year, to clear up the growing misinformation
about carbohydrates and clarify their true role in healthy eating and weight loss, we published and
distributed in our meeting rooms and elsewhere a consumer service guide called The Truth about Carbs.
The theme of this material is that all calories count (not just carbs) and many carbs—including fruits,
vegetables, whole grains and non-fat dairy—provide essential nutrients and are vital to health and
well-being.
We customize our plans from country to country in order to suit local tastes and nutritional
concerns, as well as package labeling differences between countries. Our plans allow members to
carry-back or carry-forward unused POINTS values and thus gives members the flexibility to participate
in special occasions and special meals. Our current United States plan was launched in Fall 2003 and is
branded FlexPoints, our current United Kingdom plan launched in Winter 2003 is branded Time to Eat,
and our current plan in Continental Europe launched in Fall 2002 is branded Points Plus. We typically
launch an innovation in a region’s plan every two years. We attempt to stagger our innovations so they
do not occur in all markets at the same time.
Exercise
Exercise is an important component of weight loss and our overall program to lose weight. Our
classroom leaders emphasize the importance of exercise to weight loss and in leading a healthy,
balanced lifestyle. In addition, our program promotes exercise by allowing members to earn additional
POINTS values as part of their menu planning based on the type and amount of exercise in which they
engage. Our United States members currently receive ‘‘Get Moving,’’ which is designed to promote
exercise and activity outside of the classroom. This exercise guide is consistent with the
recommendations for physical activity outlined by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the American College of Sports Medicine. International members receive similar information.
Additional Delivery Methods
We have developed additional delivery methods for people who, either through circumstance or
personal preference, do not attend our classes. For example, we have developed program cookbooks
and an At Home self-help product that provide information on our plans and guidance on weight loss,
as well as CD-ROM versions of our food plans for the United Kingdom, Continental Europe and
Australia.
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