Weight Watcher Points
Weight Watchers Points Calculator
Estimate the Points value of a food item.
A Guide to the Weight Watchers Points System
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial calculator based on publicly available information about past Weight Watchers (WW) formulas, like the PointsPlus system. The current official WW Points® algorithm is proprietary and may differ. For the most accurate tracking, please use the official WW app.
The Weight Watchers program is a popular weight loss and healthy lifestyle program that, instead of simple calorie counting, assigns a 'Points' value to foods. The goal is to stay within a daily and weekly Points budget. The formula for calculating these points is designed to be more nuanced than just calories, encouraging healthier food choices. Foods that are higher in protein and fiber, which promote satiety and are beneficial for health, will have a lower point value. Conversely, foods that are higher in sugar and saturated fats will have a higher point value, encouraging moderation.
This calculator uses a simplified formula inspired by systems like PointsPlus to give you an estimation of a food's point value based on its core nutritional information: total calories, fat, fiber, and protein. By entering these values from a food's nutrition label, you can get a quick sense of how it might fit into a Points-based diet plan. It's a useful tool for understanding how different macronutrients contribute to a food's 'cost' in a diet plan and for making more informed nutritional choices.
How Points Are Generally Calculated
While the official formula is proprietary, many estimation formulas are based on the same principles. They aim to create a single number that reflects a food's overall nutritional profile. A common simplified formula looks something like this:
Points ≈ (Protein/11) + (Carbs/9) - (Fiber/5) + (Fat/4)
This illustrates the general concept: protein and fiber help to lower the points value of a food, while carbohydrates and fat increase it. Our calculator uses a similar, publicly discussed formula inspired by the PointsPlus system to provide its estimate.