Comparing TOPS and Weight Watchers
The Pros and Cons of Two Popular Weight Loss Programs
Mar 22, 2008
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and Weight Watchers are two popular weight loss programs that people use to lose weight. While these two programs have proven to be successful, there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Advantages of TOPS and Weight Watchers
Studies show those who have social support are more likely to lose weight than those who do not. Social support is a core part of each program. Both TOPS and Weight Watchers provide weekly meetings for members so that members can weigh-in and gain support.
The meal plans of both programs provides portion control, but in different ways. With the TOPS meal plan, foods are categorized according to whether a food is a meat, starch, fruit, fat, dairy or vegetable. TOPS followers are required to count servings of food based on allowable calories per day. With the Weight Watchers Flex Plan, every food is assigned a Points value. Flex Plan followers can eat anything they want as long as they within their allotted number of daily Points.
Both plans provide online support and easy online access to recipes and meal plans. TOPS and Weight Watchers members also receive newsletters. The TOPS plan is affordable at only $24 annually for members in the U.S., and $30 annually for members in Canada, with a $1 weekly meeting fee.
Disadvantages of TOPS and Weight Watchers
TOPS:
While monitoring calorie intake is generally a good idea when trying to lose weight, counting servings of food is not a long-term solution for weight loss. Once someone stops counting food servings, they're more likely to gain the weight back. Also, counting actual meals is difficult when mixing categories of foods together.
Weight Watchers:
Since the Weight Watchers Flex Plan requires counting Points, its also not a long-term solution for weight loss since most members will stop counting Points once they've lost weight and more than likely gain back the weight they've lost.
Another disadvantage of Weight Watchers is the cost. Members pay a $30 registration fee and a $12 weekly meeting fee. A member can pay a year or two in advance, with a yearly membership fee of $132, and a two-year membership fee of $253. Weight Watchers does provide an online option for members who do not wish to attend weekly meetings; however, the online membership is $16.95 with a $29.95 registration fee.
While social support has been shown to be important to those losing weight, the cost of gaining that support may be prohibitive. There are many free online support forums for dieters.
Source:
Heshka, Stanley, et al. (2003). Weight Loss with Self-Help Compared with a Structured Commercial Program: a Randomized Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289 (14), 1792-8.
