WeightWatchers Faces Bankruptcy Amid Rising Competition from Weight-Loss Drugs
If you’ve ever tried WeightWatchers (MyWW) (or know someone who has), you might have seen the recent news floating around — and yep, it’s true — the company behind WeightWatchers is having a really tough time right now.
Some reports even say they could be filing for bankruptcy soon. But what does that even mean? And why is it happening? Let’s break it down in simple terms.
So… What Happened to WeightWatchers (MyWW)?
WeightWatchers (now called WW International) has been around for decades helping people lose weight through tracking food, counting points, and healthy habits.
But in the last few years? Things have changed a LOT in the world of weight loss.
Why?
→ Because of super popular medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
These are prescription drugs that many people are using to help with weight loss — and they’ve completely changed the weight loss game.
Instead of paying for meal plans or tracking apps, more people are turning to these new meds. And that’s made it really hard for companies like WeightWatchers to keep up.
Their Money Problems
WeightWatchers has been losing money for years — not just because of Ozempic — but that sure didn’t help.
Some big problems they’re facing:
- Fewer people are signing up for their programs
- They owe a lot of money (over $1.4 billion!)
- Their stock price dropped big time
- Some of their big-name leaders (even Oprah!) left the company
Now, they’re reportedly getting ready to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy — which is kind of like hitting the pause button so they can reorganize, figure out their money situation, and (hopefully) come back stronger.
Does This Mean WeightWatchers is Closing?
Not necessarily!
Bankruptcy doesn’t always mean “goodbye forever.” It often means a company is trying to save itself by cutting costs, working out deals with people they owe, and trying to stay in business.
But it does mean things could look very different for WeightWatchers moving forward. We might have seen the writing don't he walls when they moved their site logging information to be all app based, and I think that could've harmed them a bit.
What Are People Using Instead of WeightWatchers?
Here are a few popular alternatives people are turning to for weight loss help:
Prescription Medications (Always Talk to Your Doctor First)
- Ozempic
- Wegovy
- Mounjaro
- Zepbound
Apps & Tools Without Medication
- Noom (mindset + tracking)
- MyFitnessPal (food + exercise tracker)
- Healthi (similar to old WW point system)
- Lose It! (calorie tracking app)
- Fitbit (mindset + tracking)
- Weight Watchers/Healthy Eating Facebook Group
The world of weight loss is changing fast — and WeightWatchers is right in the middle of it. Whether they bounce back or not, there are lots of options out there to help people feel healthier and more confident.
As always: talk to your doctor, do your research, and choose what works best for you.
Helpful Links
Some Answers to other Questions:
It helps people lose weight by reducing appetite and controlling blood sugar. But it’s only available by prescription, and it’s not for everyone.
Nope! She stepped away from the company in early 2024. She wanted to run a special on Weight loss medicines, and knew there would be a conflict of interest because she wanted to talk candidly without constraints.
That's totally up to you, but I wouldn't jump ship just yet. If it's still working for you, then keep going. I'm still going to show support.