WW International facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
WW International, Inc.

Formerly	Weight Watchers (1963–2018)
Type	Public
Traded as	OTC Pink: WGHTQ NASDAQ: WW
Founded	May 15, 1963; 62 years ago (1963-05-15) Queens, New York, U.S.
Headquarters	675 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor New York, NY 10010
Key people	Tara Comonte, President & CEO
Products	Weight loss, Packaged foods, Exercise products
Revenue	$1.5 billion (2018)
Operating income	$267.305 million (2017)
Net income	$163.514 million (2017)
Total assets	1.246 billion (2017)
Total equity	-1.015 billion (2017)
Number of employees	18,000 (as of 2017[update])

WW International, Inc. is a global company from the U.S. It used to be called Weight Watchers International, Inc.. The company helps people with weight management, fitness, and healthy thinking. It offers a well-known program called the Weight Watchers diet.

The company was started in 1963 by Jean Nidetch, a homemaker from Queens, New York City. As of 2019, WW's program had three ways to join: online through its app and website, coaching by phone or online, or in-person meetings. In 2018, the company changed its name to "WW". This was to show that it now focuses on overall health and wellness, not just losing weight.

How WW Started and Grew

The Idea Behind Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers began with Jean Nidetch. She was a housewife and mother from Queens, New York City. Jean had struggled with her weight for most of her life. She tried many different ways to lose weight, but the weight always came back.

In 1961, when she was 38, Jean weighed 214 pounds. Someone even thought she was pregnant. She then joined a free 10-week weight-loss program. This program was run by the New York City Board of Health. It was called the "Prudent Diet." This diet plan suggested eating fish five times a week. It also allowed two pieces of bread and two glasses of skim milk daily. More fruits and vegetables were encouraged. It also said no alcohol, sweets, or fatty foods.

Jean lost 20 pounds on the program. But she didn't like how the meetings were run. People weren't allowed to talk much. Jean also felt like eating too many cookies. So, she started her own weekly support group in her apartment. She invited six friends who also wanted to lose weight. Within two months, 40 women were coming each week.

Jean shared the "Prudent Diet" with her group. The group offered understanding, support, and shared ideas. They also had a weekly weigh-in. Jean created a system to reward people for reaching weight-loss goals. By October 1962, Jean reached her goal weight of 142 pounds. She kept the weight off and never weighed more than 150 pounds after that.

As more people became interested, Jean coached groups in other areas. One group met at the home of Al and Felice Lippert. After they successfully lost weight, Al Lippert, who was a businessman, convinced Jean to turn her idea into a company.

Launching the Company and Going Public

Jean Nidetch and the Lipperts started Weight Watchers Inc. in Queens in 1963. Jean was the president and main speaker. They rented places for meetings and charged $2 per person each week. The first official meeting in May 1963 had 400 people. Jean led groups and trained others to do the same.

Al Lippert managed the business side. In 1964, he started selling franchises. These were offered cheaply to people who had lost weight with the program and kept it off. The company received 10% of the earnings from these franchises. By 1967, Weight Watchers was international. It had 102 franchises in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, and Israel.

Felice Lippert was in charge of recipes and food research. The first Weight Watchers cookbook came out in 1966. It sold over 1.5 million copies. By January 1968, the company had over one million members worldwide. Weight Watchers Magazine was also launched. Its first issue sold 300,000 copies.

In 1968, the company had 91 franchises in 43 states. To grow even more, Al Lippert made the company public. This meant selling shares of the company to investors. The first shares were offered at $11.25 each. They quickly rose to over $30 on the first day. Lippert also started selling Weight Watchers prepared foods, and other products like scales.

Jean Nidetch remained the public face of the company. She was slim, well-dressed, and great at motivating people. In 1970, she wrote a book about the original Weight Watchers plan. In 1973, she stepped down as president. She then focused on public relations, traveling and speaking about the program's success.

In the mid-1970s, the company focused more on "eating management." They created special plans for different needs. This included plans for when weight loss slowed down. They also had a plan for keeping weight off.

By the late 1970s, the company had grown very large. Al Lippert found it hard to manage. So, in 1978, it was sold to the H. J. Heinz Company for $72 million. Lippert stayed on as chairman and CEO for a few years. Jean Nidetch continued as a consultant. In the late 1980s, the company's different parts were still making more money each year.

New Owners and a Second Public Offering

In 1990, Weight Watchers faced more competition. Other companies like Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem were growing. This caused Weight Watchers' earnings to drop. Heinz, the parent company, responded by introducing new Weight Watchers "Smart Ones" frozen meals. In 1997, Weight Watchers changed its system. Instead of counting and weighing food, they introduced the POINTS system. This system used a special formula. It gave a "points" value to food based on its carbs, fat, and fiber.

In 1999, Heinz sold Weight Watchers to a company called Artal Luxembourg for $735 million. Artal became the main owner. Raymond Debbane became the chairman of Weight Watchers. In 2001, Debbane made Weight Watchers a public company again. This meant its shares were once again traded on the stock market. As of 2018, Artal was still the company's biggest shareholder.

In 2000, the new owners got back the right to publish Weight Watchers Magazine. Its circulation quickly improved. The magazine was redesigned in 2003.

In 2001, the company launched WeightWatchers.com. In 2007, they launched Weight Watchers Online for Men.

In late 2010, Weight Watchers updated its POINTS system. It was replaced with PointsPlus (called ProPoints outside the U.S.). With this new system, fruits and non-starchy vegetables had zero points. Processed foods had higher points than before.

From 2012 to 2015, the company faced tough competition. Many free smartphone fitness apps became popular. These apps often included social support. Wearable fitness trackers like Fitbit also became common.

Changes from 2014 to 2018

In 2014, Weight Watchers bought a virtual fitness training company called Wello. This led to more purchases of digital health companies. In 2015, they bought the Hot 5 fitness app and the online community Weilos. Parts of Weilos were later used for Weight Watchers' Connect product. This was an online community within their app and website.

In October 2015, Oprah Winfrey partnered with Weight Watchers. Oprah bought 10% of the company. She became a spokesperson and joined its board of directors. She also lost weight on the program. She helped launch a new health and fitness program called "Beyond the Scale."

Even with Oprah's help, the company faced challenges in 2016. This was mainly due to competition from other companies and free apps. The CEO, James Chambers, resigned in September 2016. Mindy Grossman became the new CEO in July 2017. She had helped grow digital sales for HSN.

In December 2017, the company introduced WW Freestyle (called WW Flex outside the U.S.). This program allowed people to save unused "SmartPoints" for later in the week. It also listed over 200 "zero-points" foods. These included many lean proteins that didn't need to be tracked. In February 2018, CEO Grossman announced a new goal for the company. It would be a "partner in health and wellness." It would inspire healthy habits for everyday life.

Weight Watchers' subscriptions increased a lot by mid-2018. This was thanks to Oprah's influence and Grossman's efforts. She updated the program, improved the technology, and made the company appeal to more people.

In August 2018, the company bought Kurbo, Inc. They renamed its free mobile app for children and teenagers Kurbo by WW.

In September 2018, the company changed its name to WW International, Inc.. This showed its new focus on overall health and wellness, including fitness. Its new slogan was "Wellness that Works." The company stopped requiring users to have a weight loss goal. Its in-person meetings were renamed Wellness Workshops. The WW app was updated to track other health goals. Its FitPoints system allowed people to choose activities that helped their health the most. At that time, WW also partnered with the meditation app Headspace. This offered special mindfulness content for members.

As part of the name change, WW launched WellnessWins. This program rewarded members for healthy habits. These rewards could be used for products, services, and experiences. The company also announced Connect, a digital community. It included smaller "Groups" for members.

Recent Challenges and Changes

On April 9, 2025, news reports said that WW was getting ready to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This was due to financial problems and more competition from weight loss medicines like Ozempic. The company planned to get rid of most of its debt. It also planned to sell itself to its lenders.

On May 6, 2025, WW officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware. The goal was to remove most of its $1.5 billion debt. This would put the company in a better financial position. WW expected to finish the bankruptcy process within 40 days, around June 15, 2025. The company's operations were expected to continue normally during this time. WW was removed from the Nasdaq stock exchange on May 16. It then started trading over-the-counter.

How WW Works

WW's business model is based on subscriptions. People pay to join the program and get support. The company also sells various products, media, and services. Its brand is built around being a community. Its website is very important to how well it works.

In the 21st century, the company has increasingly presented itself as a health and wellness brand. It focuses on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. It also tries to balance its online and in-person offerings. As of 2019, the program offered support through its app, website, in-person workshops, and personal coaching.

What WW Offers

WW's main source of money comes from subscriptions to its program.

The company provides a weight-management program (myWW+) and a food plan (SmartPoints). Customers can join through in-person group meetings or online. They receive personalized information, support, and coaching.

WW also earns money from its branded services and products. These include Weight Watchers magazines, cookbooks, and food guides. It sells its own snacks. It also allows other companies to use the Weight Watchers name on prepared foods and drinks.

WW's Weight-Loss Plans

The first Weight Watchers diet plan in the 1960s was based on the "Prudent Diet." It focused on lean meat, fish, skim milk, fruits, and vegetables. It banned alcohol, sweets, and fatty foods. It had lists of allowed and forbidden foods. It was more strict than later versions. It suggested weighing food and not skipping meals.

The company has often changed its diet plans. This is to keep up with new science and what customers want.

• In 1979, Weight Watchers added PepStep. This was a walking or stair-climbing exercise program. It was one of the first weight-loss companies to stress the importance of regular exercise.
• By 1980, the company made its diet plan more flexible. It offered three routines: a "full choice" plan with many options, a "limited choice" plan with fewer options, and a "no choice" plan that was very strict and short-term.
• In 1984, Quick Start was added. This was a temporary plan to help people lose weight faster at the beginning. It was the company's first "exchange-based" diet. This meant foods within certain groups could be swapped.
• In 1984, Weight Watchers also launched its At Work program. Meetings were held in offices for groups of 15 or more.
• In 1988, the Quick Success program was launched. This plan was easier and more flexible, especially for working women. It also allowed for a vegetarian diet.
• In 1997, Weight Watchers completely replaced its old diets with the POINTS system. This system gave a "points" value to food based on its carbs, fat, and fiber.
• In 2000, the company introduced Winning Points. This was a more personalized version of the POINTS system. It included self-tracking, changing habits, and fitness. It didn't ban any foods.
• In 2004, Weight Watchers launched the Turn Around program. It offered two plans. The Flex Plan allowed dieters to eat anything within their points. The Core Plan (later "Simply Filling") didn't use points. It had a list of foods that could be eaten until satisfied.
• In December 2008, Weight Watchers introduced the Momentum Plan. This plan helped members understand how certain filling foods helped them eat less.
• In late 2010, Weight Watchers updated its POINTS system to PointsPlus. Fruits and non-starchy vegetables became zero points. Processed foods had higher points.
• In December 2012, the company launched Weight Watchers 360. It added behavioral support, mindfulness, and new apps. It also offered an optional fitness tracker called ActiveLink.
• In September 2014, Weight Watchers apps started syncing with fitness trackers like Fitbit. This allowed activity to be tracked and converted to points automatically.
• In December 2014, Weight Watchers launched Personal Coaching and 24/7 Expert Chat. Personal Coaching offered a certified coach for personalized plans. 24/7 Expert Chat gave instant advice from coaches.
• In December 2015, the company launched "Beyond the Scale." This program used SmartPoints, an updated points system. It helped guide people away from unhealthy foods. That same month, Connect was launched. This was a social media platform within the app for members to support each other.
• In December 2017, Weight Watchers introduced WW Freestyle. This allowed people to save unused points. It also listed over 200 zero-points foods, including many lean proteins.
• In November 2021, WW introduced PersonalPoints. This new program uses AI to adjust points and zero-point foods based on what each person likes. Extra points can also be earned for drinking enough water and eating non-starchy vegetables.

Who Leads WW and Who Speaks for It

Company Leaders

Jean Nidetch, the founder, was the company's President from 1963 to 1973.

Al Lippert was the CEO of Weight Watchers from 1963 to 1981. From 1978 to 1999, Weight Watchers was part of Heinz. Charles M. Berger was CEO from 1982 to 1994. Since 1999, the CEOs have been: Linda Huett (2000–2006), David Kirchhoff (2007–2013), Jim Chambers (2013–2016), and Mindy Grossman (2017–present).

Mindy Grossman is also the President and on the board of directors. Since 1999, Raymond Debbane has been the chairman of the company.

In 2015, Oprah Winfrey bought 10% of WW International. She was on the board of directors. In February 2024, she announced she was leaving WW. She donated her shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Famous Spokespersons

Founder Jean Nidetch was the public face and spokesperson from 1963 to 1983. Other famous people who have spoken for the company include:

• Lynn Redgrave (1983–1992)
• Kathleen Sullivan (1994–1995)
• Sarah, Duchess of York (1997–2007)
• Greg Grunberg (2007)
• Tamela Mann (2008–present)
• Jenny McCarthy (2009)
• Jennifer Hudson (2010–2014)
• Charles Barkley (2011–2014)
• Jessica Simpson (2012–2014)
• Ana Gasteyer (2013)
• Oprah Winfrey (2015–2024)
• DJ Khaled (2018–present)
• Kate Hudson (2018–present)
• Kevin Smith (2018–present)
• James Corden (2021–2023)

See also

• List of diets