Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers International, Inc (literally, weight watchers ) is a US-based company that markets a method for weight loss.

History

The company was founded in 1963 in the State of New York by the housewife Jean Nidetch and is now represented in 30 countries. 1970 led Irmgard and Walter Mayer by the first German Weight Watchers meetings in their apartment in Düsseldorf. In 2012 there are more than 300,000 participants throughout Germany.

From 1978 to 1999, the company Weight Watchers belonged to the HJ Heinz Company. In 1999 it was taken over by a Luxembourg investment holding company. Since 2001, the shares of Weight Watchers International, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The joint stock company, headquartered in New York City was nearly seven years under the direction of David P. Kirchhoff before this was replaced by James R. Chambers in August 2013.

Concept

The approach satisfies the requirements of evidence- based guideline Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, 2007, the German Society of Nutrition at a weight reduction program. The efficacy and safety has been demonstrated in randomized, controlled trials. It is a long-term moderate reduction in energy intake and a change in diet habits. The concept is, every food has a so-called " point value " to a tag which is calculated from several factors. It generally prohibits all kinds of food are eaten in moderation. The decrease is willing daily a fixed point set is available, which depends on the gender, age, height and weight. The documents, recipe books and "Point Lists" are at disposal under copyright protection and only paying members.

According to two studies by the Medical Research Council in the UK occurs when participating in commercial weight-loss programs such as the Weight Watchers program significantly more often the desired success than with standard treatments in the context of primary health care in the British health care system. Almost one- third of the participants managed a weight reduction of about 5%. According to DGE ( German Nutrition Society ) allows the Weight Watchers program moderately obese persons a mean weight loss of 3-4.5 kg ( 1 year) or 2.9 kg (2 years).

Participation opportunities

Features of the method are a controlled diet and paid weekly group meetings of dieters in which to share experiences, information on the concept and healthy diet and the respective successes are reviewed. The approximately 16,000 group leaders have also decreased with Weight Watchers and have achieved their desired weight. The diet program can also be performed for a fee by sent by mail documents or online at home.

First, a target weight loss of the willing is determined, which is within the defined as normal weight weight range ( BMI) for each body size. Anyone who has reached his target weight must eat six weeks after the so-called conservation program, before the so-called Gold Membership ( in Austria duration membership) can be used. Gold Members can participate worldwide at group meetings, as long as they are not more than two kilograms above their target weight.

Weight Watchers brand products

Weight Watchers marketed under its concept a variety of products on which the respective point value is given; However, these products are not essential for the implementation of a nutrition concept necessary.

Stiftung Warentest criticized in July 2007, a product of Weight Watchers and rated it poor in quality judgment of the note. Thus, had the Premium Cooked Ham with 0.6 g of fat per serving an unusually high proportion bindegewebsreichen (collagen degradation products ), which should not be included after the meat regulation.

Surreptitious

The television presenter Andrea Kiewel was honored between 2001 and 2007 for the explanation of the Weight Watcher program in journalism television formats. The ZDF and MDR separated in December 2007 by Kiewel after the presenter had admitted the surreptitious television talk show host Johannes B. Kerner. Since 2009 Kiewel works again for ZDF.