Latest news with #WeightWatchersClinic
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
WeightWatchers gives UK slimmers major update after filing for bankruptcy in US
Founded in 1963, WeightWatchers has helped millions of people on their weight loss journeys via memberships, diet meals, memberships and books but has now field for bankruptcy WeightWatchers, the once-dominant diet brand backed by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States. The company became the highest-profile casualty of the explosive rise in weight-loss drugs that have rapidly redefined the wellness industry. WW International Inc., the company behind the 62-year-old brand, announced it has entered Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware bankruptcy court. It is aiming to shed more than £860 million in debt and restructure operations to focus on prescription weight-loss drugs via its telehealth business, WeightWatchers Clinic. Customers in the UK, of which there are approximately two million each year, have been assured that it will be "business as usual". A UK spokesperson told the Mirror: "WeightWatchers took strategic action to eliminate approximately $1.15 billion (£860 million) in debt, significantly strengthening its financial foundation to further invest in its growth strategy and better serve its millions of members around the world. "WeightWatchers remains business as usual. There will be no impact to members or the plans they rely on to support their weight management goals. All offerings and services, including workshops, the app, and access to telehealth services, will continue to operate as usual, with no interruptions." While specific figures vary, business data portal Statista reports that around 1.3 million people used Weight Watchers chilled or frozen ready meals in 2020 In the UK. The bankruptcy filing in the US comes amid a sharp decline in revenue and a collapse in its stock price. Once worth more than £5 billion, the company's market value has fallen to just £8.71 million. Its shares have traded under 75p since February. The brand's struggles accelerated after Oprah Winfrey, its most high-profile investor and ambassador, resigned from the board in February 2024 - two months after publicly admitting she had been using weight-loss drugs. The US chat show queen had been a key figure in WeightWatchers' image and marketing since joining the board in 2015. The company says it has the backing of nearly three-quarters of its creditors and expects to emerge from bankruptcy within 45 days. As part of the restructuring, it plans to pivot further into the pharmaceutical sector by selling 'GLP-1' weight loss drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro as well as diabetic medication Ozempic, which buyers have used to lose weight. Once a leader in the diet industry - offering calorie-counting tools, frozen meals, books and in-person support groups - WeightWatchers has found itself rapidly eclipsed by the popularity of GLP-1 drugs. They suppress appetite and lead to significant weight loss with minimal lifestyle changes. In 2023, the company acquired the firm Sequence for £79 million and rebranded it as WeightWatchers Clinic, offering virtual access to prescriptions. While the drug segment's revenue grew 57 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter to £22.1 million, total company revenue fell 10 per cent, and losses deepened. WeightWatchers' leadership has seen turmoil during the decline. CEO Sima Sistani resigned in September 2024. Interim chief executive Tara Comonte - a former Shake Shack burger executive and board member - is now leading the bankruptcy process. In a statement, Comonte said: 'As the conversation around weight shifts toward long-term health, our commitment to delivering the most trusted, science-backed and holistic solutions has never been stronger.' But industry analysts say the company's pivot may be too late. 'The rise of GLP-1 drugs has upended the traditional weight-loss industry, and WeightWatchers is the first major casualty,' said Lale Akoner, global market strategist. 'This isn't just a company failure, it's a wake-up call for the entire wellness sector.' The company has also faced challenges in appealing to younger consumers. In 2018, WeightWatchers acquired the health app Kurbo in an effort to reach a new generation. The following year, it launched the platform publicly, targeting children aged eight to 17 with the goal of promoting 'healthy habits.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WeightWatchers declares bankruptcy as people embrace weight loss drugs
WeightWatchers has filed for bankruptcy as more Americans turn to weight loss drugs to slim down. The 62-year-old weight loss program's parent company, WW International, announced Tuesday that it aims to eliminate $1.1 billion in debt as part of the Chapter 11 filing and to focus on expanding its fledgling telehealth business. Services to WeightWatchers customers will continue uninterrupted, the company said. "Our existing debt has been a significant burden on the business for many years and has resulted in approximately $100 million of annual interest payments in each of the last two years," WeightWatchers CEO Tara Comonte said in a call on Tuesday to discuss the company's restructuring plans. WeightWatchers said it expects to complete the reorganization in 40 days and emerge as a publicly traded company. WeightWatchers has more than 3 million members worldwide. The company also offers prescription weight-loss medication through its "WeightWatchers Clinic" subscription program. "Importantly, WeightWatchers remains fully operational with all of our offerings and services, including our workshops, our app and our telehealth business, continuing to operate with no interruption during this reorganization process and beyond," Comonte said in the call. "To repeat, there will be no impact to our members or the plans they rely on to support their weight management goals or to our teams." WeightWatchers on Tuesday reported revenues of $186.6 million for the first quarter of 2025, down 9.7% compared to the period a year ago. The company had fiscal-year 2024 revenue of $785.9 million, less than half of its revenues in 2018. Sneak peek: The Depraved Heart Murder Why Hegseth is calling for cuts to senior ranks across U.S. military Analyzing Trump's announcement of ceasefire with Houthi rebels in Yemen
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Best Weight Loss Programs for 2025
If you're trying to lose some weight to promote your health, it can be tricky to figure out how to properly adjust your diet and exercise. Losing weight is about more than just reducing your caloric intake -- it's about creating lasting habits that support a healthier lifestyle. To reach your goals, you'll need meals that are both satisfying and nutritious, plus a plan that fits your personal needs and schedule. With so many weight loss programs now available, from app-based subscriptions to personalized coaching, finding the one that best fits your needs and goals can be daunting. Our recommendations can help you make significant lifestyle changes and maintain a healthy goal weight. CNET's experts also tapped nutrition experts to learn what a good weight loss program should look like and what red flags you should watch out for before signing up for a program. Here's everything you should know about signing up for a new weight loss program in 2025. I dove deep into each of the weight loss programs on this list and crowned WeightWatchers as the best overall weight loss program. WeightWatchers makes the top of this list due to its general nutrition and wellness education, choices for those with diabetes and who are vegan or vegetarian, the on-demand workouts and 24/7 support. Editor's note: Weight loss programs aren't recommended for those with a history of disordered eating. Consult your doctor or nutritionist before beginning any diet or weight loss program. WeightWatchers has been around for decades. The program is known for telling its customers that "no food is off limits." While clients follow a point system that assigns food to a certain number of points, there are 350+ ZeroPoint foods that are allowed. WeightWatchers often tops lists of "best diets," with a primary reason being the education provided to help users make positive diet changes. The popular weight loss program also offers diabetes-tailored, vegetarian and plant-based diet plans. Membership options WeightWatchers offers several membership plans. There are introductory discounts when you sign up for a six- or 12-month plan. Monthly membership: This membership starts at $23/month with a $20 one-time starter fee. The six-month plan is currently $15/month, while the 12-month plan is $11/month. It includes access to the WeightWatchers app, a program based on intake quiz results and goals and a 24/7 chat service. WeightWatchers Clinic: Normally $99/month, this does not include the cost of prescription medication, which will vary and depend on a patient's insurance. However, certain non-GLP-1 medications are included in the cost of the membership. Pricing may also vary depending on the length of the membership you choose. For members prescribed compounded semaglutide, the first month of the 12-month commitment is $129, while each additional month is $189/month. This price includes the cost of care and medication, with WeightWatchers Clinic eligibility. See at WeightWatchers Noom is a relative newcomer to the weight loss game. Calling itself "WeightWatchers for millennials," this app-based program uses the stoplight method, assigning colors (orange, yellow and green) to foods based on their nutritional quality. Noom is also known for using a psychology-based approach by educating clients on healthy habits and lifestyles, as well as changing the way they think about food. Its app tracks your food intake and physical activity and helps you lose weight with no restrictive dieting. Noom typically has all diet plans: low-carb, DASH, low-fat diet, Mediterranean and flexitarian. Membership options Noom is about $70 per month. The longer you commit, the lower the cost. Noom will recommend the duration of your program based on your weight loss goals. See at Noom Nutrisystem is a traditional weight loss program that features premade meals, shakes and snacks delivered to your home. The program focuses more on providing meals for you rather than strategies to maintain weight loss. It provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. In addition to your prepackaged meals, you'll still have to buy kitchen staples and some other items. Membership options Nutrisystem offers two membership plans for women, two for men and two for partners. The prices range from $11 - $20 per day ($300+ a month) and include food for five days a week, access to the app, coaching, over 100 menu items and essential nonperishable items. See at Nutrisystem Optavia is a weight loss program that relies on shakes, bars and other Optavia-branded packaged foods, called "essential fuelings" to produce results. These fuelings include cookies, puddings, bars, cereals and soups that are shipped directly to your door. In addition to the fuelings, Optavia provides recipes for "lean-and-green meals" that you're responsible for cooking with fresh ingredients. Membership options Optavia offers three membership plans. Optimal Weight 5-and-1 Plan: This plan costs $472 a month and includes 17 boxes of essential fuelings. Optimal Weight 4-and-2-and-1 Plan: This plan costs $475 a month and includes 18 boxes of essential fuelings and two boxes of snacks. Optimal Health 3-and-3 Plan: This plan will cost you $448 for a case. You have the option between a box and a case of two fuelings or two shakes. See at Optavia There isn't a diet that will work for everyone. Consider these factors and choose a diet that will work best for you. While you may need to eat fewer calories to lose weight, you don't have to eat fewer types of foods. Diets are often most successful when they offer a wide variety of foods and we feel less restricted. Don't choose a diet that is very restrictive or makes you feel like you are missing out on something. The word "diet" has such negative connotations because of the way it's thrown around regarding weight loss, but diets don't have to be a negative experience. Try to find an eating pattern that's enjoyable and interesting enough to stick to. Even the most popular diet won't help with weight loss or weight management if you're miserable. What do you really want to gain from weight loss? What really motivates you? No matter what plan or diet you are following, unless you are motivated, it's going to be very difficult to follow. If you are motivated by coaches or a community, look for programs that offer one-on-one counseling or accountability. If you are motivated on your own, you won't need the extra push. Diets can be expensive. If the price tag on a program looks intimidating, make sure to also consider the price of food on top of it (if the program doesn't already include a meal plan). Find a program that fits your budget. I considered each weight loss program's price, support, exercise advice, nutritional value, overall wellness and convenience. I dug deep into WeightWatchers and Noom and had the opportunity to taste-test Nutrisystem, Optavia and Jenny Craig. The latter underwent a direct-to-consumer makeover since I tested it, so it has been removed from this list. Before creating this list, I tested each program's website, app or supportive content. I also tapped experts to determine what makes a weight loss program successful and what factors to avoid. We consulted experts to help make sense of a successful diet and weight loss journey. How do you find the right program for you? Here's what they had to say. The best diet program for you will be the one that meets you where you are at in life. It must be "realistic, sustainable and flexible," said Jamie Nadeau, a registered dietitian. "Learning to eat healthy consistently truly comes down to learning how to build healthful habits into your life." "If a diet program is too rigid or strict, it's unlikely to work for most people," she said. "If it's asking you to do things that aren't realistic for you or require tons of effort and change all at once, it's not going to work." Dietitian Amelia Ti takes a different approach to the question. "I define a successful program as one that allows members to choose from a variety of foods without restriction and [one that] measures progress by how its clients/participants feel (their mood, energy levels, sleep, etc.)," she said. Ti added, "A successful diet program should improve one's relationship with food and their body, not worsen it." Nadeau agreed: "The most successful diet programs are the ones that involve learning how to eat a normal, well-balanced diet that includes all food groups (and fun foods too)." It is easy to fall for a weight loss program's empty promises. Our two experts told us how to spot the red flags from miles away. Nadeau said to watch out for "any program that requires you to buy their specific products or foods to be successful. If you have to buy their bars, shakes or prepacked foods, run. The minute you don't have their food to rely on, any weight that you lost is going to return." In addition to the food a program may tell you to eat, watch out for programs that are too restrictive. Ti said, "If a diet program instructs you to cut out various foods or food groups, red flag! A few others include if they label foods as 'good' or 'bad' and promise immediate results." Dieting programs are not for everyone — especially those at risk of developing eating disorders. Nadeau recommends working with a registered dietitian over a diet or weight loss program. She said, "Working with a registered dietitian means you'll be getting individualized advice from a credentialed professional with experience working with people just like you." The best weight loss program is the one that meets your needs, goals and lifestyle. Not every program is one-size-fits-all. In fact, if you are looking for a personalized nutrition program that lasts, you may be better off seeking a dietitian. According to US News and World Report, the best diet of 2025 is the Mediterranean diet, but this diet isn't for everyone. The most successful weight loss program for you will be one that meets where you are in life. A commercial weight loss program typically doesn't provide one-on-one counseling with a dietitian or nutritionist. Some programs provide prepackaged frozen or nonperishable foods, but commercial weight loss programs typically don't provide fresh food. Weight loss programs can either be good or bad for you, depending on what you're looking to get out of it. If you want a quick fix or quick weight loss, programs might not be right for you. It can trigger disordered eating and not instill healthy eating habits. You could even gain the weight back once you stop your program. If you're looking for a weight loss program to educate you, push you to exercise and help you in the long run, then a program could be beneficial. Short answer: You don't. Losing 1 to 2 pounds per week (or up to 8 pounds per month) is generally the most that's considered safe. Otherwise, you risk nutritional deficiencies, muscle loss and other health issues over time.
