In the US, WeightWatchers has declared bankruptcy due to financial difficulties and intense competition from fat-loss brands like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
As the 60-year-old diet business accepts new terms for repaying its lenders, $1.15 billion (£860 million) of its debt will be written down throughout the judicial procedure.
WeightWatchers stated that there will be “no impact to members” and that it will continue to be “fully operational” throughout the process. In what the company described as a “rapidly changing weight management landscape,” it comes after the explosive growth in popularity of weight reduction injections.
For more than 62 years, WeightWatchers has empowered millions of members to make informed, healthy choices, staying resilient as trends have come and gone,” said chief executive Tara Comonte.
The plans have “the overwhelming support of our lenders”, she said.
The company claimed in a statement that its weight-loss workshops, “telehealth” program, and weight-loss program will all continue. The business swore it was “here to stay” and would not go out of business.
The company claimed that it had a “significant amount of debt on its balance sheet, some of it dating back decades” and that it would be able to restructure its balance sheet by declaring bankruptcy.
According to the firm, some clients will receive court notifications as part of the procedure, but they shouldn’t have to do anything.
WeightWatchers started as a weekly support group for weight loss with 400 participants, and it has now grown to have millions of members worldwide.
Although the company does sell weight-loss pharmaceuticals as part of its programs, demand for its programs has decreased as the popularity of weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound has increased.
Ms. Comonte stated in February that WeightWatchers could assist those seeking “sustainable” weight loss following drug discontinuation.
“At the same time, WeightWatchers is in a period of significant transition as we navigate industry shifts and reposition our business for long-term growth,” she said at the time.
The brand’s subscription revenues decreased 5.6% from the previous year, and it reported a financial loss of $346 million (£260 million) last year.
It said on Tuesday that while its clinical division, which includes weight-loss medications, saw revenues jump more than 57% in the first three months of 2025, subscription revenues fell 9.3%.
The brand’s $1.88 billion in total liabilities exceeds its asset value. It stated that it “expects [the] reorganisation plan to be confirmed in approximately 40 days and to emerge as a publicly traded company.” In 2018, WeightWatchers changed its name to “WW” to reflect its new emphasis on health promotion rather than weight loss.
