Why Weight Watchers Isn't a Wellness Solution

"In 2018, Weight Watchers rebranded itself as "WW," announcing that it was no longer a diet but a "wellness and lifestyle program." The shift sounded refreshing - even progressive. After decades of being synonymous with calorie counting and weigh-ins, the company seemed to embrace a broader vision of health. But beneath the glossy marketing and pastel app graphics, little had actually changed. The points system remained, weigh-ins persisted, and the focus on weight loss stayed the same."

"The core of the program remains the points system, which turns every bite of food into a moral calculation. Foods high in calories, sugar, or fat carry higher point values, while "zero point" foods - mostly fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins - are considered "free." On the surface, it looks flexible, but in practice, it encourages judgment and guilt. Members are taught to save points, to "earn" indulgences, and to feel remorse when limits are exceeded."

"This focus on external numbers disconnects people from their own hunger and fullness cues. Instead of learning to trust their bodies, members learn to follow the app. Weight Watchers doesn't teach self-care or awareness - it teaches control. WW's marketing language makes the program appear modern and compassionate, using terms like balance, mindset, and empowerment. But underneath this façade, weight loss is still the benchmark for success."

In 2018 Weight Watchers rebranded as WW and presented itself as a wellness and lifestyle program while preserving its points system, weigh-ins, and weight-loss emphasis. The points system assigns moral value to foods, encouraging saving points, "earning" indulgences, and guilt when limits are exceeded. External numbers override internal hunger and fullness cues, teaching members to follow the app rather than trust their bodies. Marketing language uses balance, mindset, and empowerment to appear modern, while progress remains measured by pounds lost. Rebranding shifted language but maintained control-oriented methods, framing restriction as empowerment and compliance as self-care.

Read at Psychology Today