Weight Watchers has recently announced that it will offer free classes to teenagers in the UK, the US, and potentially other countries where they operate. While some view this as a positive step in addressing the health epidemic affecting many countries, others believe that Weight Watchers is opportunistically targeting younger individuals to boost their profits. This article examines the company’s new initiative, Weight Watchers for Children and considers whether there might be more effective alternatives.
Weight Watchers developed its points system for converting food amounts in 1997. Despite its early promise, the system was known to be ineffective for many people, though the company continued to use it. The concept made sense theoretically, but in practice, it offered minimal benefit to the majority.
After 14 years of advocating calorie counting as a solution to obesity, the president of Weight Watchers recently declared: “Calorie counting has become unhelpful.” This admission implies that the system, once considered useful, was not as effective as claimed—a point of contention among many health professionals who argue that its effectiveness was questionable from the start.
Weight Watchers has a history of evolving its methods in response to new research and evidence. This constant change complicates comparisons between current practices and those from the past. With their frequent updates, the effectiveness of their methods is difficult to assess, as the current approach differs from what was used five years ago. This means that current evidence is insufficient for a thorough statistical critique, making it challenging to evaluate the success of their new strategies.
In 2016, Weight Watchers reported an $11 million quarterly loss. In response, the company is now offering a free six-week course for children as young as 13. This move is believed by some to potentially increase their revenue in the US by $2 billion. Expanding this initiative globally could significantly impact Weight Watchers’ financial outlook.
Christine Morgan, the National Director of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration, expressed her “absolute horror” at the announcement from Weight Watchers. She highlighted growing evidence that any kind of dieting in children can negatively affect their relationship with food later in life.
Weight Watchers for Children claims that their programme is not about dieting. However, given the company’s long association with weight loss, it is challenging for many to perceive the programme as anything other than a dieting scheme. Morgan noted: “You don’t go to Weight Watchers for anything other than to have your weight measured and to see how much weight you lose each week. Weight Watchers for Children is not health promotion, it is not a healthy activity for a young person.”
One must ask: “Why would a huge company like this want to offer a free six-week Weight Watchers for Children course?” Their business model depends on engaging as many people as possible with their brand for as long as possible. This includes attending classes, purchasing books or apps, and buying their custom food. The goal is not to help individuals become healthy and self-regulate but to ensure they remain as customers.
Weight Watchers for Children is not offering this course out of altruism. The aim is to generate profit—potentially significant profit—by attracting a younger audience.
The free six-week course has faced significant backlash, especially in America, where the hashtag #wakeupweightwatchers is gaining traction. Many are concerned about how Weight Watchers is targeting children.
The British Diabetic Association is worried about the potential negative impact of this course on children. They argue that promoting dieting to teenagers sends the wrong message and could lead to yo-yo dieting. A spokesperson from the BDA stated: “Suggesting a teenager needs a diet is a negative message, suggesting that they are not good enough just as they are, at a point of life where things are already turbulent. One of the issues with offering free membership to teenagers is that young people’s bodies are not fully developed during these teenage years, both in shape and size.”
There has been some cautious optimism regarding the Weight Watchers approach. Professor Russell Viner from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health acknowledged potential benefits but also expressed serious concerns: “I do have serious concerns that if not managed sensitively, it could have alarming consequences.”
This course will be managed by a private company with a poor success rate, driven by profit motives rather than altruistic goals. Many on social media share concerns about the potential harm of this initiative.
Alternative resources to consider instead of Weight Watchers for children:
Plenty of free places offer information about balanced eating, joyful movement, and honouring your body. As Sue Huff noted on Twitter: “Let’s be clear: WW is promoting weight loss & dieting to teens to expand their market & make a profit. #WakeUpWeightWatchers.”
Laura Lowe added: “The cost is not free. The cost is ruining the chances of your child having a healthy relationship with food. #WakeUpWeightWatchers.”
Meg Ⓥ tweeted: “13 year old girls are just growing into their body, they are going through puberty and their hormones are all over the place. It’s disgusting that you are preying on these young individuals. #WakeUpWeightWatchers.”
If you are seeking support for developing a healthy attitude towards food appropriate for your age and you’re not keen on Weight Watchers for children, consider contacting the organisations linked to in this post or reaching out to the Sheffield Wellness Centre. We offer expertise in nutrition, activity, and mental health, providing more balanced and age-appropriate guidance.
