Earlier this month the NY Times reported that Weight Watchers made a good program better. Basically they made all fruits and veggies FREE and upped the points on less healthy calorie sources.

“not all calories are the same”

Weight Watchers calls the new program Points Plus. In the NY Times article a Weight Watchers rep conceded that not all calories are the same:  ”…Now, we know that is not the case, in terms of how hard the body has to work to make that energy available. And even more important is that where that energy comes from effects feelings of hunger and fullness.”

“a calorie is a calorie is a calorie”

This may contradict what the Twinkie Diet researcher had to say about weight loss, that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, but I wouldn’t throw my hands up just yet. The energy balance equation has long been the “gold standard” of weight loss even if popular diet myths promised success “without ever counting calories!”

“what does it mean for me?”

Individual difference still apply and research in the area of weight loss will continue. My takeaway is that weight loss without healthy eating has little merit. It has become a cliché that 95% of all weight loss on commercial diets is temporary. Maybe healthier eating combined with a restricted diet will produce weight loss that finally sticks!