WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy as people opt for Ozempic jabs
At its peak, WeightWatchers had nearly five million members worldwide and was the dominant force in the world of dieting.
Yet last week, the iconic brand filed for bankruptcy and almost nobody even noticed.
So what went wrong? With record numbers of people overweight — two thirds of the population in England at the last count — how did a company synonymous with dieting end up broke?
The brand's problems can be traced back at least a decade, starting with the emergence of the 'bodypositivity' movement that led to a greater acceptance of different body shapes. Before you could say 'Ryvita with cottage cheese', being thin had gone out of fashion and dieting had become a dirty word.
To compound the problem,
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Warning as over-the-counter drug used by millions is linked to increase risk of bowel cancer
Tracking what over-the-counter medications patients are prescribed could help spot those with early signs of bowel cancer. Studies have previously suggested women often purchased more pain and indigestion drugs in the months prior to an ovarian cancer diagnosis. But a sudden rise in haemorrhoid treatment purchases—such as creams and laxatives—has also been linked to bowel cancer diagnoses. This change in shopping habits happens up to fifteen months before they are told they have the condition, studies show, suggesting people are treating symptoms at home before seeking advice from a GP. Now, in a first-of-its kind study, Cancer Research UK funded research, will identify more patients across the UK with early tell-tale signs of the disease, by looking at their medication history. It's hoped the project could help identify seven other cancers including pancreatic, stomach and lung, at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be effective. It comes amid a rise in bowel cancer striking people in their 20s, 30s and 40s —a phenomenon that has baffled doctors around the world. England has experienced one of the fastest rises in early-onset cases of the disease worldwide, with an average annual increase of 3.6 per cent between 2007 and 2017 among under-50s. Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, or a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstruction. Some people also suffer from weight loss as a result of these symptoms Professor Chris Cardwell, an expert in cancer epidemiology at the University of Belfast, said: 'These changes in specific medications could act as an alert for doctors to consider earlier cancer investigation or point to unrecognised symptom patterns.' Diagnosing cancer early can be life-changing, with more than 90 per cent of bowel cancer patients surviving for five years or more, if diagnosed at the earliest stage. This rate sits at just 10 per cent if the disease is diagnosed at stage four, when the cancer has spread. 'Diagnosing cancer as early as possible is key to ensuring treatment is as effective as possible and give patients the best chance of recovery,' Professor Cardwell added. Previous Danish research has also suggested patients who had more GP appointments for haemorrhoids were more likely to then be diagnosed with bowel cancer roughly a year and a half later. The fresh Cancer Research UK study will focus on eight cancers including bowel, pancreatic, stomach, ovarian, lung, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Prescription data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank at Swansea University, which works with the NHS, will be studied to identify common treatments given to people who are then diagnosed with the disease. Professor Peter Murchie, another oncologist involved in the study, said: 'We know symptoms of cancer can develop slowly so changes in our prescription data could become a very important early warning signal to prompt busy GPs'. Whilst haemorrhoids—swollen blood vessels in the rectum—is not always a sign of bowel cancer, rectal bleeding is not something to ignore, experts warn. Blood in the stool, can be a sign of bowel cancer, especially if it's dark red or black in colour, causing the stool to look like tar. Other common symptoms include a lump that can be felt in the rectum or abdomen, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue and breathlessness. This type of cancer can also block the bowel—known as a bowel obstruction—resulting in cramps, bloating, constipation and vomiting. Given that these symptoms may initially be dismissed for digestive issues or piles, many sufferers will seek over-the-counter treatment before seeing a GP, meaning that the cancer is not caught until it has progressed to the later stages. Around 32,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK with another 142,000 in the US. The disease, the third most common cancer in the UK, is the same type that killed Dame Deborah James aged 40 in 2022. Scientists have suggested a host of factors are likely behind the phenomenon—from increased pollution to rising obesity and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Ozempic heatwave alert: Weight loss jabs put users at risk of deadly complication as temperatures soar, doctors warn
Millions taking weight loss jabs in the UK could be at increased risk of a potentially deadly complication amid a sizzling heatwave, medics have warned. Britain is set to bask in 26C (79F) temperatures from today with the mercury predicted to soar even further to a potential 32C (90f) by next week —as hot as Barbados and Malibu. While many will be enjoying what has been dubbed the 'Mediterranean melt' medics have warned patients taking revolutionary weight loss jabs need to be extra cautious in the heat. This is because drugs, such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic can cause dehydrating nausea and diarrhoea. Dehydration is a potentially deadly condition where the body loses more fluid than a person takes in from drinking. It typically causes headaches and dizziness but if not treated quickly can even lead to seizures, kidney failure or prove fatal. Pharmacist and nutritional therapist Deborah Grayson, known as The Godmother of Pharmacology on TikTok, told MailOnline patients on the jabs need to be aware of the added danger heat can put on their body. 'You'll need to be extra careful about hydration during hot weather as these medications often cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea—all of which can lead to fluid loss,' she said. 'A heatwave means patients could be at serious risk of dehydration, which can cause dizziness, low blood pressure, and put stress on the kidneys.' She added: 'This is particularly important for new users of the weight loss medication, whose bodies are still adjusting.' Ms Grayson urged patients on the jabs to ensure they were drinking water frequently 'even if you're not feeling thirsty' and to set a timer to remind them to do so. She also advised patients to avoid alcohol and caffeine which can also have a dehydrating effect on the body. Other safety tips to avoid dehydration while on the drugs include avoiding going out at the hottest part of the day and sticking to small 'bland' meals to avoid triggering vomiting and diarrhoea. Above all, Ms Grayson urged parents experiencing these side effects to contact their GP if concerned. 'If you can't keep fluids down, speak to a doctor. Even mild symptoms can turn serious quickly in a heatwave, so don't take any chances,' she said. Safety information distributed with the jabs also warns of the risk of dehydration while using the medications. Mounjaro's also reads: 'In some cases you may experience loss of fluids/dehydration, e.g. due to vomiting, nausea and/or diarrhoea, which may lead to a decrease in kidney function. It continues: 'It is important to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.' Broad symptoms of dehydration include, darker and smellier urine, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, as well as fatigue and sunken eyes. More than an estimated 1.5million Britons are estimated to be using weight-loss jabs each month. And more could be on the way-as British GPs will be able to prescribe the jabs directly to patients from this month. This is a shake-up from the previous system which required patients to attend a specialist NHS weight-loss clinic to get the jabs on the health service. Both Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed for weight loss on the NHS. Ozempic is a medication for diabetes but contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy—semaglutide—and there have been reports of being prescribed 'off-label' for this purpose. However, this will initially only be available for severely obese patients with multiple health conditions. Other commonly taken medications, such as antidepressants are also linked to heat-related dangers with patients at increased risk of sunburn.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'Prostate cancer diagnosis felt like a black hole'
McFarlane's friend, theatre director Femi Elufowoju Jr said hearing his story encouraged him to get checked, which led him to also being diagnosed. He thanked McFarlane for saving his life. Despite treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Mr Burkey's body has stopped responding to advanced hormone therapy. He said: "Inevitably your body becomes resistant, the cancer becomes resistant to them. "You are constantly having your PSA levels monitored to see how treatments are working. "You are constantly sort of on your toes thinking where am I up to now? "What have I still got left that can be used? "It is a very anxious time. "I do not want another man to be in the position I am in."
