The Weight Watchers Flex Points program assigns a points value to foods based on the number of calories, fat grams and fiber grams in a serving. The points system is designed to allow dieters to eat any foods they want, as long as they keep track of total points consumed and stay within their daily points target range.

Identification

The number of points you can have depends on your current weight. If you weigh less than 150 pounds, your points target is 20. If you weigh 150 to 174 pounds, you get 22 points. Additional target points are as follows: 24 points are allotted for the weight range 175 to 199 pounds; 26 points for 200 to 224 pounds; 28 points for 225 to 249 pounds; 30 points for 250 to 274 pounds; 31 points for 275 to 299 pounds; 32 points for 300 to 324 pounds; 33 points for 325 to 349 pounds; and 34 points for those weighing 350 pounds or more.

Considerations

In addition to your daily points, you are allowed an additional 35 points per week to use any time and on any foods you choose, regardless of your current weight.

Effects

As you lose weight, your points target will change. When your current weight falls into a different points category, you must change your points goal if you want to continue losing weight.

Buying Points

You can increase your daily points allotment by adding exercise to your routine. 30 minutes of moderate exercise earns you an extra 2 points if you weigh 260 pounds or less, and an extra 3 if you weigh over 260 pounds.

Function

Even though you can eat any food you want, the points plan encourages healthy eating by assigning higher points values to high fat, lower fiber foods. According to the Weight Watchers website, "since nutritious foods are low in points values, the approach guides you to healthier eating strategies."

Source:

Weight Watchers: Turn Around Tour