Weight Watchers Points

Weight Watchers POINTS are part of the Weight Watchers diet plan. Instead of counting calories, dieters track their consumption using a POINTS system. The number of POINTS allowed each day is determined by your gender, weight, height, age and how you spend your days -- and because low-fat, high-fiber foods have the fewest POINTS values, the system encourages such foods by default.

Since POINTS are essentially a free-for-all, dieters could potentially live off of junk food -- provided they stay within their daily POINTS limit. Some dieters may eat a high number of low-POINTS foods and end up without enough dietary fat or protein. Others might under-eat all day and save up their POINTS for a single splurge. Neither option is particularly healthy. But dieters who take a balanced approach to the system can find success.

"The research indicates that of all the commercial weight loss programs, Weight Watchers has the best track record though the overall weight loss is not as significant as most people desire," Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., M.A., R.D., spokesperson, American Dietetic Association told AOL Health. The other downside, claims Sass, is that the POINTS system is based on fat and fiber. "Many of my clients who've done Weight Watchers end up taking in too little healthy fats such as nuts, olive oil, avocado.

See our full Weight Watchers diet review for more information. Plus, find out how to calculate your Weight Watchers POINTS online.