For individuals that are considering a weight loss program, determining the program that is best suited for you requires a little bit of research. However, one such weight loss program that have been proven to be effective is Weight Watchers; a popular weight loss program with offices across the country as well an online presence offering weight loss and fitness plans. The findings of a new clinical study may be exactly what’s needed for you to determine if Weight Watchers is right for you.

According to the recent clinical study published by the Medical Research Council’s Human Nutrition Research Unit, a leading British research organization, the effectiveness of the Weight Watchers weight loss program are effective as clients lost double the weight of those who received standard weight loss advice and care over the same 12 month time period.

The clinical study was the very first randomized controlled trial that drew a direct comparison between a commercially available weight loss program, Weight Watchers, and the weight loss care provided by a family medical physician.

Clinical Study Proves Effectiveness of Weight Watchers Program

According to the results of a new clinical study, strong>individuals who participated in the Weight Watchers weight loss program, instead of following their medical physician’s advice, displayed statistically significant reductions in overall body weight and fat percentage when compared to the pier group.

• Lost double the weight.

• Lost more fat mass.

• Were more likely to stick with their diet long-term.

• Were 3x as likely to drop 10% of their total body weight.

• Lost more inches off their waist.

The Obesity Epidemic

Susan Jebb, the leader of the study, described Weight Watchers as a “robust” program that should be applicable to the residents of any developed country, not just the United States. She also said that this type of research is crucial because of the pressing necessity to identify effective ways of treating obesity.

According to another recent study, obesity is set to soon overtake tobacco as the biggest preventable cause of potentially deadly illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease in the world.

With a world population that’s now approaching 7 billion, the facts are staggering: 1.5 billion adults worldwide are classified as “overweight,” while an additional 0.5 billion are classified as obese. Yet another 170 million children fall into one of these categories as well. In many countries, obesity is solely responsible for up to 6% of overall healthcare costs.

For the sake of full disclosure, it should be noted that Jebb’s study was funded by its subject, Weight Watchers International. However, all of the necessary research, including both data collection and data analysis on the effectiveness of Weight Watchers, was conducted independently of the organization.

Conclusive Results

A total of 772 obese or overweight adults from Britain, Germany and Australia were randomly selected to participate in either Weight Watchers or a standard, doctor-designed weight loss program. Both programs were offered free of charge and lasted for 12 months. Those who participated in Weight Watchers were assigned to local groups, not the program’s online component.

Approximately 61% of the Weight Watchers members lost 5% or more of their body weight, while only 32% of the standard care patients lost the same. After 12 months of the study, average weight loss among all participants was 11.2 pounds for Weight Watchers and 5.1 pounds for standard care. Those figures include participants who did not stick with their programs for the full duration of the study.

Among those who did complete the entire 12 months of their respective programs, weight loss figures came in at 14.7 pounds for Weight Watchers and 7.3 pounds for standard care.

Mixing Commercial Weight Loss Programs with Health Care

For state and national governments, the results of the study pose some interesting questions: should commercial, for-profit programs such as Weight Watchers be incorporated into publicly sanctioned health care programs? Is paying for the membership fees of potential members a worthy investment that will pay itself off in the form of a lower need for chronic obesity-related illness treatments?

Paul Aveyard and Kate Jolly, two esteemed health and population professors from Birmingham University, say that the answer to both questions is an emphatic “yes,” especially given the relatively low cost of programs such as Weight Watchers. Not surprisingly, Weight Watchers CEO David Kirchhoff echoed these statements, pointing to a “clear need for practical treatment solutions that are proven effective, affordable and scalable.”

Given the striking and hopeful results of the study, it seems likely that more studies comparing other commercially available weight loss programs will be conducted in the future. It also indicates that individuals who have been hesitant to pay for such a program, instead relying on the advice of their doctor, or worse – their existing knowledge – may want to reconsider.