When it comes to leaders in the weight loss industry, the Weight Watchers method of weight loss is no fly-by-night fad. Weight Watchers, which has been around since the mid-1960s, has established a reputation in the weight loss industry as a sensible way to shed surplus pounds slowly but surely, by encouraging healthy eating and providing encouragement and support through group meetings. Weight Watchers was born from the desire of one woman--a housewife and mother--to shed the stubborn weight that had plagued her almost all of her life.
Jean Nidetch
Jean Nidetch once described herself pre-Weight Watchers as an "overweight housewife obsessed with eating cookies." After the birth of two children, the 38-year-old, 5-foot 7-inch resident of Queens, New York, weighed in at 214 pounds. But Nidetch, born in 1923, had weight problems even during her childhood. She tried fad diets, pills and even hypnosis to lose weight. But no matter the method, she always gained back the weight that she lost. In 1961, the desperate housewife called together six overweight friends to commiserate and offer each other support.
Humble Beginnings
The first Weight Watchers meetings took place in Nidetch's living room, where she and her friends discussed sensible eating plans, reported their progress and relied on each other for support. In two months, the number of women in Nidetch's group had expanded to 40. According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), her Weight Watchers group convened at a pizza shop. They never bought pizza, but Nidetch later helped the owner to create a best-selling, low-calorie milkshake. Nidetch stuck to her weight loss plan and by October 1962, had lost 72 pounds.
Weight Watchers Takes Off
Word of those who lost weight successfully using Weight Watchers spread largely by word of mouth. In 1963, Nidetch made it formal by incorporating her company, traveling all around the world as a professional speaker to spread the word. By 1968, Weight Watchers had franchises all over the U.S. In addition to a new celebrity status, Nidetch, who never expected to make money off of her idea, became extremely wealthy.
How It Works
Key to dieters' success using the Weight Watchers program are the "four pillars of healthy weight loss:" good food choices, healthy eating habits, exercise, and group support. Those who want to lose weight aren't deprived of their favorite food types; Weight Watchers doesn't require dieters to eliminate food types or purchase specialty products. Weight Watchers has also developed a variety of diet plans specifically tailored to those with certain lifestyles and health concerns.
Weight Watchers Today
According to the official website, Weight Watchers provides 50,000 support meetings every week all over the world. Weight Watchers also has an online presence that allows dieters to devise their own weight-loss plans, establish goals, access meal plans and recipes, track their weight loss, find local meetings, and get exercise and fitness advice (see Resources).
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