diet - A History of Weight Watchers

A History of Weight Watchers

by Kathy A. Brewis

Weight Watchers has been around for a long time. I can remember my mom telling me about the time that she was on Weight Watchers back in the 1970’s. From the description she was able to give to me and from what I was currently hearing about, it was the same program but with a different approach. Of course, there were some food differences in the two programs but overall the old program and new program basically had the same goal, and that was to help people lose weight.

It all started with one woman’s frustration with losing weight. She was an ordinary housewife who had tried every fad diet known to mankind. In desperation she turned to a free diet clinic in New York City. She stuck with the diet and lost 20 lbs but soon lost her motivation. She then called up a few of overweight friends and they started meeting together at each others house. From meeting together they determined that losing weight was more than just a diet. It was also about changing one’s habits and getting support from people who cared.

In 1963, Weight

Watchers became incorporated and had their first public meeting in a loft in Queens, New York. The meeting was not advertised so it was a surprise to find 400 people outside the doors to loft waiting for the meeting to begin. The company rapidly began to expand as their former members branched out and formed franchises around the United States and abroad.

There were changes made to the basic food plan as the nutritional findings further developed. Weight Watchers also introduced a behavior management program based on the belief that the best way to control weight is to change bad eating habits. In 1978, an exercise program was added, which made Weight Watchers the first dieting organization to place importance of walking to the overall fitness of an individual.

Also in 1978, Weight Watchers was bought the Heinz Company. Since this acquisition, Weight Watchers has continued to grow and prosper. Today, Weight Watchers has more than one million members who attend meetings in twenty seven countries.

Weight Watchers

offers a complete line of portion-controlled entrees, snacks and desserts in the grocery stores. These items were designed to fit into the Weight Watchers eating plan.

Other products such as cookbooks, a national magazine and exercise tapes have also been introduced into the market. Also in recent years, it has developed an online program for those who cannot attend meetings.

Weight Watchers today continues to be a success story. My mom told me she lost 100 lbs doing the program back in the 1970’s. Personally I successfully lost around 50 lbs but unfortunately lost the motivation and haven’t been able to pick it up again. I am convinced that Weight Watchers holds the key to successful weight loss. I have seen too many people who have had success stories to be convinced otherwise.

About the Author
I received my undergraduate degree in Human Resource Management in 1996. I have been working for the Birmingham Public Library for nine years now as a library assistant/computer trainer. I enjoy writing in my spare time.

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