Weight Watchers does not directly equate calories to points. Instead, they incorporate a weighting system to encourage healthier eating, adjusting based on the difficulty of digestion (e.g., proteins have fewer points than sugars and fats for the same calorie count).
For instance, an apple is 0 points but contains 52 calories.
In fact, even four apples remain 0 points but total 208 calories.
A Cadbury Wispa, containing 215 calories, is assigned 11 points. Thus, while it has nearly the same calories as four apples, consuming four apples costs 0 points, whereas eating one Wispa costs 11 points.
This system encourages the consumption of apples over chocolate because (a) apples are healthier, (b) it’s more challenging to consume large quantities of apples than chocolate, and (c) it ideally fosters the habit of choosing an apple over chocolate when feeling peckish, helping to maintain weight after discontinuing Weight Watchers.
Similarly, foods like chicken and non-fatty fish are deemed ‘free’ to promote their consumption. If one doesn’t consume these ‘free’ foods, they might end up quite hungry, as they could exhaust their daily points allowance well before their daily calorie allowance.
For example, a McDonald’s Big Tasty with Bacon is 28 points, exceeding a typical daily points allowance but contains only 850 calories, less than half the recommended daily calorie intake. Therefore, relying solely on the Big Tasty would mean consuming too few calories, as the expectation is to also eat healthier, low-point foods. By assigning the Big Tasty such a high point value, Weight Watchers permits its consumption but discourages it.