‘They don’t practice what they preach’: WeightWatchers turns to weight-loss drugs

When WeightWatchers was originally conceived, it was envisioned as a weight loss company combining support groups and an intensive diet plan into one cohesive program. At the forefront of the business was the so-called “prudent diet,” which had been developed in the 1950s by Dr. Norman Jolliffe. The diet called for fish five times a week, liver once a week, two pieces of bread and two glasses of skimmed milk a day as well as an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Alcohol, sweets and high-fat foods were prohibited. It was also advisable to weigh all portions of food before eating it.

Although the diet was found to be effective, it did not provide any type of mental support to its followers. This is where WeightWatchers thrived: by providing those looking to lose weight with the means, encouragement and strength they needed to achieve their personal goals.

In 2018, WeightWatchers abandoned its weight loss motto and rebranded as “WW” to focus on its new mission of promoting overall health and wellness. But weight loss still seemed to be the company’s main goal, as it targeted a more vulnerable demographic. That year, WW was criticized for launching a free weight loss program aimed at teenagers aged 13 to 17. Although this idea was presented, WW soon after announced a new weight loss mobile app for kids ages 8 and up, called Kurbo by WW.

“The name is WeightWatchers, not Health Enhancers,” registered dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield wrote for the Washington Post at the time. “As soon as we focus on weight, the risk of mental and physical damage begins.”

Unfortunately, WW hasn’t done much to redeem itself in recent years. The company is now moving into the weight-loss drug business, much to the dismay of those who respected its once-revered principles.

Specifically, WW embraces blockbuster weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. As Axios explains, the initiative “illustrates how obesity is now considered a chronic disease treatable with drugs that could account for tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars in sales within a decade.” As expected, investors are delighted. But the same cannot be said for customers, many of whom feel cheated.

“WeightWatchers kicked us out,” one 15-year member told Bloomberg.

Others echoed similar sentiments, saying WW had abandoned its message of restraint and behavior change in favor of a quick fix: weight-loss drugs.

“They don’t practice what they preach…and now all of a sudden there’s a drug involved,” another WW member said during a meeting in April, per Insider.

Earlier this year, WW International Inc. closed thousands of in-person meeting locations and acquired telemedicine startup Sequence for $132 million. Sequence connects its patients with doctors who can prescribe GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic — a diabetes drug that has gained popularity online and among celebrities as an anti-obesity drug.

Although the acquisition drew strong backlash from current WW members, Goldman Sachs analysts predicted “the move into weight-loss drugs could save the 60-year-old company from financial collapse,” according to Insider. Analysts estimate the company could generate $455 million in new revenue from half a million additional subscribers by 2025.

Additionally, WW hopes to persuade Medicare to cover weight-loss medications, Axios reported. If this comes to fruition in the future, Medicare coverage of anti-obesity drugs (AOMs) would “increase overall federal spending,” congressional officials said in October.

“Right now, these drugs, under Medicare Part D, are in the same category as hair loss drugs,” Sima Sistani, CEO of WW, said at the HLTH annual conference in Las Vegas. “That’s what I’m talking about. It’s about trying to shift the conversation from vanity and a concern in this area to actual health.”

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Many health experts, however, are concerned about AOM, especially following new reports claiming the drugs could put patients at risk for three rare but serious stomach problems. The drugs also put patients at increased risk of stomach paralysis and inflammatory diseases like pancreatitis and certain types of intestinal obstruction, according to a study published in the scientific journal JAMA.

“Experts warn that there is still not enough data on how these drugs work long-term and in certain populations, which could ultimately affect their market,” Axios wrote in July. Experts also warned that the drugs could cause excessive loss of muscle mass in patients over 65, according to the New York Times.

Ozempic, in particular, remains a concern in the health field, especially after it became something of a cultural phenomenon. Unlike most AOMs, Ozempic has become popular among people who are not obese but looking to lose a few pounds. This has, in turn, sparked concerns about drug abuse and the increased use of over-the-counter laxatives, also known as “Economic Ozempic.”

That being said, WW is committed to providing access to anti-obesity medications. Perhaps only time will tell whether this move will actually save the company or ruin it permanently.