WW International, still widely known by its former name WeightWatchers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Once the leading name in global weight loss programs, the company is now trying to shed over $1.1 billion in debt and retool its entire business model.
The filing came in early May and allows WW to continue operating while it restructures. According to documents filed in Delaware, the goal is to exit bankruptcy in under 45 days, after converting much of its debt into equity for lenders.
“WeightWatchers is not going away,” said CEO Tara Comonte. “But we’re moving fast to adjust to a new era—one where the tools and expectations for weight loss are changing completely.”
A Company Caught in the Middle
Founded in 1963, WeightWatchers pioneered community-driven, portion-based dieting long before wellness was a buzzword. But in recent years, its model has struggled to stay relevant. The sudden rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy has changed how people think about weight management.
WW tried to pivot. In 2023, then-CEO Sima Sistani acquired a telehealth company that connected users with doctors able to prescribe weight-loss medications. But it didn’t move the needle fast enough. Membership dropped 12% last year. Debt piled up. Stock collapsed into penny territory. Sistani stepped down in 2024, and Comonte—a finance executive from Shake Shack—took the reins.
“This isn’t a collapse,” Comonte said in a press release. “It’s a rebuild.”
Public Reaction: “Like a Part of Me is Gone”
The announcement has hit longtime members hard. For many, WeightWatchers wasn’t just a service—it was a lifestyle, a support group, and a place to find consistency in a world full of fad diets.
“It feels like the end of something personal,” said Angela Morris, 57, who joined in 1995 and lost 60 pounds through the program. “I still have my old weigh-in cards in a drawer. I met friends there I still talk to today.”
Others felt betrayed by the company’s recent shift toward medication. “I joined WW because it focused on behavior change and accountability,” said Malcolm Ray, 42, from Bristol. “If they’re just handing out prescriptions now, how is that different from everyone else?”
Across social media, the mood was one of sadness and disbelief. Many cited Oprah Winfrey’s decision to leave the board earlier this year—and her public admission that she had used medication—as symbolic of the company’s turning point.
“She was the face of WW for a decade,” one user wrote on Reddit. “If she bailed, something was clearly off.”
A History That Mattered
Jean Nidetch, the program’s founder, once described herself as “an overweight housewife obsessed with cookies.” In 1963, she began holding support meetings in her living room. Her approach—talk about the struggle, don’t hide from it—resonated. By the 1970s, WeightWatchers was a household name.
For decades, the company’s points system became the backbone of its offering. Members counted food values instead of calories, attended meetings, and built accountability over time. It worked for millions.
In 2018, the company reached its stock market peak—trading near $100 per share. Now it sits at less than $1. The drop isn’t just financial. For longtime members, it’s emotional.
“I feel like they left us behind,” said Danielle Frye, 60, who first joined WW in the late ‘80s. “This was the one place that didn’t just sell you a shake or a pill. It made you face your habits. I don’t know where to go now.”
The Road Ahead
WW’s operations will continue during the bankruptcy process. Classes, coaching, and digital services remain active. But after the restructuring, most ownership will shift to creditors. It’s not clear how many original features—like weekly weigh-ins or group meetings—will survive the overhaul.
For now, members are watching closely. Some are holding on. Others are moving on.
“I hope they don’t forget what made WW different,” said Angela. “If they turn it into just another app or clinic, that’s not WeightWatchers anymore.”
