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WeightWatchers, the legacy company that has helped people lose weight for more than 62 years, filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday.
The company, which also goes by WW International, noted in a news release that the filing will allow WeightWatchers to “bolster its financial position, increase investment flexibility in its strategic growth initiatives, and better serve its millions of members around the world.”
The company has $1.15 billion in debt, which will be eliminated in the bankruptcy process. WeightWatchers will also continue to be a publicly traded company in about 40 days.
If you rely on WeightWatchers for weight management, it’s fair to have questions about what comes next. Here’s what you need to know.
Meet the experts: Keri Gans, RDN, CDN, nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet; Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA
Why is WeightWatchers filing for bankruptcy?
WeightWatchers was a bit vague on its reason for filing for bankruptcy, but the large amount of debt it has acquired seems to be a big motivator. The company has been trying to change its business model over the past few years, too, with limited success.
The company rebranded in 2018 to focus more on wellness over traditional diet culture and acquired a digital health company in 2023 to begin prescribing GLP-1 weight loss medications. Yet, experts say the company seems to be less popular with people these days.
“As with most diets, I’ve seen WW work for some and not for others,” says Keri Gans, RDN, CDN, nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet. “It really came down to whether things like tracking points and journaling felt like a natural fit long-term for someone’s personality and routine. Years ago, in-person group meetings were a helpful part of the program for many but, as those offerings decreased, I noticed it negatively affected outcomes.”
Mir Ali, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, also says he’s “seeing less people on WeightWatchers over the last few years.”
“There’s a trend away from these kinds of businesses,” he says. “There’s more of a shift toward medications, and more people feel comfortable getting medications from doctors and clinics than from a company.”
What does this mean for people?
WeightWatchers said in a news release that business will continue as usual for customers.
“WeightWatchers remains fully operational during the reorganization process and there will be no impact to members or the plans they rely on to support their weight management goals,” the release said.
“WeightWatchers’ holistic model of care—including its No. 1 doctor-recommended weight loss program, telehealth offering with access to obesity-trained clinicians and prescription weight-loss medications, and virtual and in-person workshops—remain fully operational during the reorganization process.”
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