Latest news with #WeightWatchers
Daily Mail
20 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Bankrupt WeightWatchers seeks salvation with 'complementary' deal on fat jabs that nearly destroyed it
WeightWatchers is joining the fat-jab revolution as it seeks to reinvent itself after going bust. The storied U.S. dieting firm - which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month - has teamed up with a UK-based anti-obesity drug firm named CheqUp. As part of the tie-up, CheqUp members will get access to a new WeightWatchers app designed to assist those taking weight-loss injections. WeightWatchers has helped millions lose weight by selling low-calorie foods, diet and exercise advice. However, the company has failed to compete with Ozempic and other breakthrough drugs that mean overweight consumers can shed weight quicker and with less effort. Its new app will support customers through the journey by recommending food choices that minimize the side effects of the medication while promoting healthy weight loss. These 'complementary offerings' will help those 'seeking sustainable weight loss through GLP-1 medication and behavioral support,' the two companies said in a joint statement. 'There is no doubt that the addition of WW breakthrough GLP-1 companion program will add enormously to our patients' ability to achieve sustainable weight loss,' James Hunt, deputy chief executive of CheqUp, said of the partnership. 'This partnership offers the most attractive proposition in the market for those looking to benefit from the incredible potential of GLP-1 medications and behavior change' Hunt added. CheqUp provides both semaglutide jabs, the active ingredient in Ozempic, and Wegovy and Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide. WeightWatchers filed for bankruptcy in May after months of negotiations with its lenders. The weight loss company has been struggling under $1.6 billion of debt and a sinking stock price. The company, now known as WW, has already negotiated a deal with its creditors so it will enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a pre-packaged filing. The company will be taken over by the institutional investors that own its debts. This should allow the company to move out of bankruptcy quickly and keep its business running as normal in the process. Weight Watchers was founded in 1963 by Jean Nidetch, a housewife from Queens, New York. It all began in her kitchen, where she invited a group of friends over to talk about dieting and offer each other support. At the time, Jean was following a diet prescribed by the New York City Board of Health, but she realized that support and accountability made all the difference. The company has influenced millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, selling diet meals, magazines, books, and memberships to its weight-loss programs. Over the years, celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Jessica Simpson have helped market the brand. In 2014, Simpson appeared in ads at age 33, showing off her post-baby weight loss in a form-fitting black dress. Alarm bells first rang for the company in March 2023, when shares hit an all-time low amid declining sales. The situation worsened when longtime investor Winfrey — who admitted to using weight-loss medication — stepped down from the board. Since then, the stock has continued its downward spiral. WeightWatchers' stock fell so low following the announcement of its bankruptcy that it was delisted by the Nasdaq index and has suspended trading. By comparison, Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk is valued at around $297 billion.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Storied 60-year-old American company forced to scrap its business model due to Ozempic
WeightWatchers has turned its back on its traditional business model and has caved to peddling the weight loss drugs that bankrupted it. WeightWatchers, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, has announced plans to team up with an anti-obesity drug company CheqUp in the UK. The 60-year-old company has been an iconic American staple, helping millions lose weight by selling low-calorie foods, diet and exercise advice. However, the company has failed to compete with Ozempic and other breakthrough drugs that mean overweight consumers can shed weight quicker and with less effort. As part of the new deal current CheqUp members will get access to a new WeightWatchers app that has been designed for those taking weight-loss injections. The app will support customers through the journey by recommending food choices that minimize the side effects of the medication while promoting healthy weight loss. These 'complementary offerings' will help those 'seeking sustainable weight loss through GLP-1 medication and behavioral support,' the two companies said in a joint statement. 'There is no doubt that the addition of WW breakthrough GLP-1 companion programme will add enormously to our patients' ability to achieve sustainable weight loss,' James Hunt, deputy chief executive of CheqUp said of the partnership. 'This partnership offers the most attractive proposition in the market for those looking to benefit from the incredible potential of GLP-1 medications and behavior change' Hunt added. CheqUp provides both semaglutide jabs, the active ingredient in Ozempic, and Wegovy and Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide. WeightWatchers filed for bankruptcy in May after months of negotiations with its lenders. The weight loss company has been struggling under $1.6 billion of debt and a sinking stock price. The company, now known as WW, has already negotiated a deal with its creditors so it will enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a pre-packaged filing. The company will be taken over by the institutional investors that own its debts. This should allow the company to move out of bankruptcy quickly and keep its business running as normal in the process. Weight Watchers was founded in 1963 by Jean Nidetch, a housewife from Queens, New York. Jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers, with devotees of the movement in 1984 WeightWatchers became a byword for the traditional weight-loss industry It all began in her kitchen, where she invited a group of friends over to talk about dieting and offer each other support. At the time, Jean was following a diet prescribed by the New York City Board of Health, but she realized that support and accountability made all the difference. The company has influenced millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, selling diet meals, magazines, books, and memberships to its weight-loss programs. Over the years, celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Jessica Simpson have helped market the brand. In 2014, Simpson appeared in ads at age 33, showing off her post-baby weight loss in a form-fitting black dress. Alarm bells first rang for the company in March 2023, when shares hit an all-time low amid declining sales. The situation worsened when longtime investor Winfrey — who admitted to using weight-loss medication — stepped down from the board. Since then, the stock has continued its downward spiral. WeightWatchers' stock fell so low following the announcement of its bankruptcy that it was delisted by the Nasdaq index and has suspended trading. By comparison, Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk is valued at around $297 billion.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
14 months ago, I was preparing for death. A box of medicine changed my life.
Michael Donnelly-Boylen calls March 10, 2024, his 'second birthday.' It's the date he gave himself his first shot of the weight loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro. 'Fourteen months ago, I was pretty certain I was getting ready for my death,' he tells Yahoo Life. 'I had given up because nothing was working to help me lose weight and get healthy. But that box [of medicine] changed my life.' Donnelly-Boylen was in Weight Watchers by age 12. In the decades since, he's tried everything from the South Beach Diet to the cabbage soup diet. 'Any version of 'eat less, move more,' I've tried it,' he says. These diets would work for a little while, and then he'd gain back the weight he'd lost and more. By the time he was 50, Donnelly-Boylen dreaded trying and failing another diet. 'What people forget about the disease of obesity is that we know more about it than anyone else and we've gained and lost weight more times than they can imagine,' he says. He'd heard of Ozempic but felt too ashamed to ask his doctor about it. Then, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 'I knew I had to fight to lose weight,' says Donnelly-Boylen. Despite being married to a doctor, getting his Mounjaro prescription was no easy feat, thanks to insurance changes and shortages of the medication. But once he had the box in hand, Donnelly-Boylen threw out all the processed food in his house and 'really started fresh.' But the Mounjaro was the 'tool that made the success stick,' he says. It all but muted the food noise that had filled his mind. 'For the first time, I realized what it was like to be somebody else, to be able to know when I'm full and move away from food.' In this installment of Yahoo's On My Weigh series, Donnelly-Boylen tells us how Mounjaro has forever altered his day-to-day. With a GLP-1, and a lot more mental space, he's gotten a new lease on life and his relationship, an appreciation for even the simplest chores, and a mission: using his social media and meeting with lawmakers to advocate for better access to the drugs that he says saved his life. Name: Michael Donnelly-Boylen Age: 51 The method: Mounjaro, 10 milligrams The goal: To reduce my weight and my A1C to get my type 2 diabetes under control Progress report: I'm exactly 100 pounds down, from 360 to 260. I can take the stairs to my third-floor walk-up without huffing and puffing, I can finally fully participate in my relationship and travel confidently. And I just constantly want to be moving! Food noise volume: It went from a 10 to a 3! I still find myself stress eating at work, but I keep my drawer stocked with high-protein snacks, such as meat sticks. The difference now is that I can control what I eat; I'm not going to go running to the vending machine for Pop-Tarts and a sugar rush. I find myself getting up incredibly early compared to what I used to do before starting Mounjaro. I used to be able to sleep in, but now I have a hard time sleeping past 7 a.m. The bigger problem is that I haven't adjusted to going to bed early, so I get less sleep than I used to. It's especially hard during vacation days or on weekends, when I just find myself more alert. But once I figured out this was just going to happen, I stopped fighting it. I know now that I can make that time useful. The early mornings are now when I do housecleaning and make my TikToks, so I don't bother my husband with them. There is a rest area at the dead center of my hourlong commute to work. I used to stop at the Dunkin' Donuts there every morning and get a bagel with strawberry cream cheese on it and a Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher. I'm still a creature of habit, but now my routine is to leave the house with a 32-ounce bottle of water with electrolytes in it. Every other day, I add MiraLax to my water too (to help with constipation, a side effect of Mounjaro). I also bring a Fairlife Core Power shake. That has 42 grams of protein in it, so it gets me about a third of the protein I need every day. And usually before I leave for work, I have a high-protein, high-fiber bagel with some cream cheese. It actually took me a while to start eating bagels again after starting Mounjaro. It took me about 10 months before I could forgive the food and recognize that the food didn't cause the problem of my weight. It's actually a bit of a victory for me to have found a way to reincorporate a healthy version of that food I loved back into my diet. I have become obsessed with skin care. I never had a skin routine — I don't think I ever even moisturized! — before starting Mounjaro. But as a result of being on this journey and actually starting to care about my body and not just being mad at it — when I tell you I have a skin care routine, I mean I have a 12-step skin routine each morning and evening. In the first nine months after starting Mounjaro, the hardest part of getting ready was looking professional while your body is constantly shifting and your clothes are getting too baggy too quickly. I've gone through at least two rounds of donating all my clothes since starting the GLP-1. My husband started taking a GLP-1 shortly after I did, but thankfully, all of his old clothes are the size I am now. One of the benefits of being in a gay relationship! But a few months ago, I realized that I didn't know what my style was. I've always worn extremely preppy clothes (think: Polo everything), simply because it was easier to get in larger sizes. I didn't know how I would dress if I had a full range of choices. I'm not quite there yet, but I have more options. Now, I dress much younger than I probably should. But I don't care! I dress in brighter colors and tighter clothes than most men my age, and I'm OK with that because I was robbed of that experience when I was younger. It's a lot of fun, but it's expensive. I take my shot on Thursday mornings. There's a lot of collective wisdom within the GLP-1 community about how to reduce side effects right after your shot. I do what many people online call a 'pregaming day.' The day before I take my shot, I set a really high protein goal and make sure I'm fully hydrated, with the help of electrolytes. On shot day, I get up and have 59 grams of protein and 32 ounces of water before I take the injection. After, I have very mild side effects, and I want to say it's a result of my ritual, but I don't know what it's like to do it any other way. I do get some mild constipation, but really, my biggest side effect is that I got my life back. I work at a law school, so lunchtime for me used to mean going down to the cafeteria and ordering something — anything — they had available. I was close friends with the cafeteria workers. They all knew me as the friendly guy who said hello every day. They don't really know me anymore, because I bring a healthy, high-protein frozen meal and have that. I still sometimes have lunch meetings, though. Starting Mounjaro hasn't affected how I interact with people in those meetings, but it's changed what's going through my head. Now, if I have to eat with other people, I don't worry constantly about being judged by others. I've been very successful professionally and personally. But my weight was the one thing I hadn't been successful in, and you can't hide that. You wear it on the outside of your body. But I don't have to think about that anymore. I recently had a two-hour work meeting in the cafeteria, and I never once thought about getting up and getting food. My husband and I used to go to bars with friends pretty regularly. We do that a lot less now, but I don't miss it. I don't know if it's the medication or my age, but when other people are having two to four drinks, I have one. For a while, I thought people thought I was judging them for drinking. I wasn't, but it was hard to explain. But ironically, most of my friends are on GLP-1s themselves now! And we're much more likely to go to someone's house to enjoy ourselves these days. If we do go out, we eat more family-style. But the biggest change in how I spend my leisure time is my ability to travel. Before starting Mounjaro, my size was very limiting. I needed a seat belt extender to fly. I have friends all over the country, but my world was getting smaller, instead of larger, because of my size. Three months after starting Mounjaro, my husband and I flew cross-country and went to the Grand Canyon. We walked the rim for miles and hiked. That had been on my bucket list for years, but without Mounjaro, I never could have truly enjoyed it. My most recent trip was to New York City, where I climbed the stairs to the top of the Vessel in Hudson Yards on my own two feet, and fit comfortably into a theater seat to see Gypsy. I love Broadway, but it had been so uncomfortable for me before. With my long commute, I don't have a ton of time to cook, and I'm the person in my household who has to cook. We used to rotate through ordering Thai, pizza or Chinese every night. There's a Dunkin' Donuts a mile away from our house, but we wouldn't walk. We would order that or Starbucks or Playa Bowls. We would collect Marriott points from Uber Eats; it's insane how much we spent. So after I started Mounjaro, I was struggling to find good options that I could make quickly and that tasted good. Then I discovered Kevin's meals. Their frozen entrées, with options like chicken tikka masala and General Tso's chicken, are, like, restaurant-quality meals. And they cost something like $11 and are available at pretty much every grocery store. So one of those and a bag of steamed vegetables, that's dinner four to five nights a week. How is my exercise routine different? I'm exercising, that's how it's different. In fact, I'm moving constantly. I call it an 'involuntary body movement' that I have now. I find myself randomly walking up the stairs when there's an elevator. I'll think, Why did I do that? My brain assumes I should be looking for the elevator, but my body is looking for things to do. I found this program called the Fit Collective, which consists of 10 minutes of resistance training a day, and it's designed to be done three times a week. Now I do it five or six times a week. But my DEXA scans showed I was maintaining muscle and bone mass doing it just three times weekly. I love it because you can do the exercises from a chair. The founder designed it for elderly people, so now that my mom is on Mounjaro too, I've got her doing it. More importantly, I enjoy chores like taking the trash out now. About six months after I started Mounjaro, our hot water heater exploded. My husband and I were downstairs cleaning up from that, and we looked at each other and realized that I was equally part of the relationship for the first time. Before starting a GLP-1, I never, ever would've been physically able to be there helping him. I'm present now. Our expenses haven't changed that much since my husband and I started our GLP-1 journeys, but what we spend money on has changed dramatically. Instead of spending crazy money ordering from restaurants, we find ourselves ordering a lot of fresh produce on Instacart, which costs a lot more. And we both drink Core Power shakes daily, and those cost a lot of money. I've had to spend a lot buying new clothes. But there's a fat tax. You already spend so much more money on anything name-brand when you're fat compared to if you're skinny. So now I can buy two pieces of clothing for the same amount I used to spend on one. Destination XL has gotten a fortune's worth of my money over the years and I'm very grateful to them, but I'm also very grateful to be branching out to other stores!
Metro
4 days ago
- Health
- Metro
The biggest pros and cons to consider before taking weight loss jabs
In the 90s and 00s, slimming clubs were packed with people looking to shed the pounds. Flash forward to today however, and Weight Watchers has filed for bankruptcy, as the meteoric rise of weight loss jabs saw the company struggling to compete. Medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Rybelsu, previously used to treat diabetes, have exploded in popularity in recent years. An estimated 500,000 Brits are now taking either Mounjaro or Wegovy (both of which are available on the NHS) and Simple Online Pharmacy claims demand is growing by up to 40% each month. However, health secretary Wes Streeting warned that they shouldn't be seen as a quick 'cosmetic' fix, adding: 'These are serious medicines and should only be used responsibly and under medical supervision.' So if you're considering weight loss jabs, we've compiled everything you need to know, as well as a look at the biggest pros and cons… To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Administered as weekly jabs, these drugs – often called GLP-1 agonists – mimic the hormones our bodies release when we eat to help diabetics manage insulin levels. But alongside regulating blood sugar, they also help with reducing appetite (so you feel less hungry throughout the day) and increasing feelings of fullness (so you eat less when you do). In the UK, new rules mean you'll need to have a consultation with a specialist weight management service before being prescribed this kind of treatment. This can be done through the NHS or privately, with the likes of Superdrug and Boots offering prescriptions online. Metro asked Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, about the biggest pros and cons of weight loss injections. In terms of their benefits, here's what she had to say: Weight loss Unsurprisingly, weight loss drugs help you lose weight — but the amount is impressive, with studies showing patients typically see at least a 10% to 15% weight reduction. 'This can be transformative, especially for those with long-standing obesity where lifestyle interventions alone have failed,' says Dr Wylie. Reduction in obesity-related health issues Dr Wylie explains: 'Weight loss of this magnitude is associated with a meaningful drop in the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 'There's also early evidence suggesting improved cardiovascular outcomes, even independent of weight loss. And for patients with pre-diabetes, these medications may delay or prevent progression to full-blown diabetes.' Improved quality of life and mental health Beyond the physical benefits, Dr Wylie says the 'positive impact on self-esteem and mood' caused by weight loss 'can create a virtuous cycle, making it easier to stay engaged with other aspects of health promotion, such as physical activity and social participation.' Support for patients who feel stuck According to Dr Wylie, the helping hand these jabs provide can be a major boost for those who feel they've 'tried everything' without success. She adds: 'As GPs, it's empowering to have another tool to offer that feels both compassionate and effective.' Despite their benefits, there are a number of things to consider before taking weight loss drugs – including possible short-term and long-term side effects. Here's a look at what Dr Wylie considers the biggest downsides: Side effects 'Gastrointestinal side effects are common, particularly during dose escalation,' she says, noting that these can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation. Dr Wylie also adds than in rare cases, 'there's a risk of pancreatitis or gallbladder issues.' Weight loss drugs aren't something to mess around with – one side effect colloquially termed 'Ozempic face' is symbolic of that. But what is it? And what are the dangers of taking semaglutide incorrectly? This phenomenon refers to sagging, ageing and lacklustre appearance of the facial skin and structures,' according to Dr Adil Sheraz, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson. He said: 'The face has a layer of fat that essentially stretches the skin. Ozempic results in rapid weight loss and does so very effectively. This, of course, will lead to rapid loss of subcutaneous (under the skin) facial fat. 'The overlying skin however will not be able to shrink at the same rate, resulting in a sagging, droopy and wrinkled appearance.' Dr Paul Jarrod Frank, a dermatologist in New York thought to have coined the phrase, told the New York Times he's started seeing Ozempic face 'every day' since these drugs hit the mainstream. He said: 'A 50-year-old patient will come in, and suddenly, she's super-skinny and needs filler, which she never needed before. I look at her and say: 'How long have you been on Ozempic?' And I'm right 100 per cent of the time.' This isn't necessarily specific to Ozempic. As Dr Sheraz explains, this change in facial features can occur with any type of rapid weight loss. There are other potential complications to look out for too: Ozempic-style weight loss drugs were recently linked to symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation, as well as an increased risk of vision loss. More worryingly, at the end of last year, the government issued a warning after 10 people died and 68 were admitted to hospital as a result of using the injections. More than 7,000 reports of illness associated with the drugs had also been made, leading the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to publicly state they should not be used for 'unauthorised indications such as aesthetic weight loss'. Long-term use Unless you overhaul your habits, the results you see while taking these medications won't last long afterwards. More Trending 'Once stopped, weight regain is common unless there's been a concurrent and sustainable lifestyle change,' says Dr Wylie. Costs Only 'very specific patient groups' are entitled to weight loss jabs on the NHS, and 'privately, these medications are expensive, often over £200 a month.' View More » If you go private, it's important to seriously whether you can afford to keep your prescription going for long enough to see results. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: This daily bathroom habit isn't actually as harmless as it might seem MORE: I've ditched coffee for this energy-boosting mushroom hydration drink MORE: Feargal Sharkey shares shock cancer diagnosis after visiting doctor with sore throat
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
The Project star Chrissie Swan reveals she was publicly weighed at age ten as she shows off dramatic weight loss
Chrissie Swan has revealed the devastating truth about her struggles with weight throughout her childhood. The radio star, 51, spoke to Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Monday where the hosts discussed the introduction of randomised public weigh-ins in Turkey. The initiative involves health workers stopping people on the street to gather their health data, including weight and body mass index (BMI). People with a BMI of 25 or more are referred to state health centres for free nutritional advice and follow-up services in a bid to address the country's rising obesity rates. Chrissie said the latest legislation was "fresh hell" as she revealed her own public trauma. "This is coming from someone whose first public weighing was at ten years old at a Weight Watchers meeting," she said. "I had to get up in front of Joy and Pam, who had little badges, and say, 'Oh yeah, I've put on point four kilos'." Chrissie said she queued up to be weighed on scales in front of people weekly where a staff member would record her weight. The 51-year-old said the public experience came with pressure to lose weight while navigating the difficult teenage years. It comes after Chrissie showed off her remarkable weight loss transformation by sharing throwback photos of herself on Instagram last week. The Nova star could be seen with a much fuller face in 2005, two years after she placed runner-up on Network 10's reality TV series Big Brother. "I WAS A BABY!" she captioned the snaps shared with her 296,000 followers. "A cute little juicy baby with layers and foils. Happy to see the love of the giant hoop earrings started early." Chrissie also shared more photos with her "bestie" Rebecca Thompson and fellow Big Brother cast members, reflecting on how far she's come. The Masked Singer judge has radically transformed over the past few years, reportedly losing 90 kilograms. The star credits her slimmed-down physique to a new diet, daily walks, and sobriety. She spoke to the Herald Sun ahead of her milestone 50th birthday in 2023 and said she had "never been happier or more centred." "It is actually great, and I don't think you can feel that way until you have done the years. I wouldn't be 20 for quids."
