Weight Watchers & McDonalds join forces

We've never been fans of many of the popular commercial weight loss groups or fads (see weightloss groups blog). The whole idea that it's all about calories in and calories out and little comparative focus on food quality has always been a concern (see calorie counting conundrum blog).  It's no surprise to hear that Nutritionist's and obesity experts turned on Weight Watchers after the recent revelation of them teaming up with the fast-food chain, McDonald's, to promote three of its low calorie meals.

The Weight watchers logo will appear on McDonald's menu boards and tray mats across New Zealand and eventually here in the UK. They will teach the virtues of the three meals in weekly group meetings and online- which include chicken nuggets, Filet-O-Fish and a sweet chilli seared chicken wrap, all of which come with the obligatory side salad. Remember, of course, the chicken will most likely be that of large scale intensive farming and the fish will be from poorly regulated fish farms - products with little nutritional value and likely many undesirable additives.

Each meal is worth 6.5 points on the Weight Watchers programme, which assigns points to food items and allows dieters to consume 18 to 40 points each day in an attempt to achieve their target weight, depending on their original size.

In recent years McDonalds has tried to rebrand itself as healthy and nutritious by serving salads, fruit and milk. One article has reported on the irony of the the deal as being the same as taking an alcoholic to a bar.

Three years ago McDonalds paid £200,000 to put the National Heart Foundation of Australia 'red tick' on seven meals – an indication of the organistions stamp of approval.

Weight Watchers has also indicated that it will promote their low calorie McDonalds meals to their groups and members. As yet no news has been given on the financial agreement between the two giants of their respective industries..

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