Weight Watchers

What Diet? - Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it now operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight Watchers”. Weight Watchers has a minimum weight requirement (based on a member’s height) to protect those who are not actually overweight. Height and beginning weight are recorded before a goal weight is set. Members may choose any weight that results in a BMI generally accepted as healthy (25 to 20),or a member may bring a note from his/her physician stating what a healthy weight for the individual would be.

Once a member reaches his or her goal weight, he or she starts a maintenance period. For the following six weeks, the member is taught how to maintain the goal weight by not losing or gaining. At this time they become “Lifetime” members. A Lifetime member must weigh in at least once per calendar month. If the member weighs more than 5 pounds (0.91 kg) over the goal weight at a “weigh-in”, he/she will be charged the weekly fee, until he/she again obtains a weight within the target range. If a Lifetime member stays within that range, there is no fee for attending weekly meetings, and they may attend for the rest of their life.