WW is the Best Program for Weight Loss | WW Canada

WeightWatchers vs. MyFitnessPal: Which is best for you?


You’re here because you’ve decided to start your weight-loss and health journey. Props to you for putting yourself first. The next step can be a little overwhelming, though.

If you’re deciding between WeightWatchers® and the MyFitnessPal app, you’re in the right place.

WeightWatchers offers members

the tools, community support, and nutrition education they need to lose weight, keep it off, and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Because weight loss isn’t only about tracking food—it’s about habit change that helps you reach your goals and stay there.

But what about MyFitnessPal?

Is it exercise-centric, given the name? Read on to see how WeightWatchers and MyFitnessPal compare.

How WeightWatchers stacks up

WW
MyFitnessPal

WeightWatchers

is ranked the #1 Best Diet for Weight Loss by US News & World Report for the 13th year in a row US News Best Diets Overall 2023


Your plan is flexible for real life

With calorie trackers, once you’ve used up your calories for the day, that’s it—even if you’re hungry. With WeightWatchers, you have options:

  • Have a snack from our list of 200-plus ZeroPoint foods that never have to be weighed, measured, or tracked.
  • Dip into your additional weekly food Budget, which you can spread out over the week or use for a special meal.

More than calorie-counting

We take it a step further—WeightWatchers is like having a nutritionist in your pocket. Our program starts with calories and then takes into account all the important nutritional qualities of a food, including protein, fibre, natural vs. added sugars, and saturated vs. unsaturated fats.


You always have support from people who get it

Research shows that members who follow the WeightWatchers approach lose twice as much as people taking a DIY approach and keep it off. Our member community and coaching can make all the difference in your journey, sharing helpful strategies, delicious recipes, or even just a “You got this” right when you need it.

An award-winning app that makes it easy to stay on track

Our simplified program and streamlined app make it quick to get in, get out, and get on with your day. There’s less tracking in the WW app because of the 200-plus ZeroPoint foods you don’t have to log. Plus, it’s easy to create your own recipes, scan barcodes at the grocery store, and accurately track what you eat at your favourite restaurants.

Learn the latest behavior change strategies

Quick-fix programs don’t teach you how to make mindset shifts, which is why they are less sustainable. While MyFitnessPal does have an on-staff registered dietitian (R.D.) and nutritionist, our chief scientific officer, Gary Foster, holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, leading a team of other doctors and R.Ds. Our nutrition and behavior change scientists provide you with simple, practical strategies to change how you approach eating—for good.

AL Ahern et al. Extended and standard duration weight-loss program referrals for adults in primary care (WRAP): A randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2017; 389: 2214–2225. 1267 participants with a mean BMI of 34.5. 2x more weight at 1 year, ~2x at 2 years. Study partly funded by WW International, Inc.

It’s proven! Lose two times more weight than DIY and keep it off


Here’s why it’s so sustainable. Members agree§ that our program:

  • Is flexible and customized to them, so they feel less hungry.‎
  • Has made them more mindful of their choices.‎
  • Is helping them feel happier and more confident.‎
  • Allows them to live life to the fullest and still lose weight.

AL Ahern et al. Extended and standard duration weight-loss program referrals for adults in primary care (WRAP): A randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2017; 389: 2214–2225. 1267 participants with a mean BMI of 34.5. 2x more weight at 1 year, ~2x at 2 years. Study partly funded by WW International, Inc.

§Based on a six-month clinical study conducted by Dr. Sherry Pagoto in 2021 at the University of Connecticut. Manuscript in process.