WeightWatchers has taken a major step by partnering with CheqUp, a UK provider of anti-obesity treatments, signaling a shift toward supporting weight loss through medication. This move follows WeightWatchers’ recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the US, driven by rising debts and fewer customers as more people choose drugs over traditional meal plans.
Through the partnership, CheqUp patients prescribed GLP-1 medications will get access to a customized WeightWatchers app. The app offers expert food advice to help reduce side effects like nausea and support healthy, lasting weight loss.
Scott Honken, WeightWatchers’ Chief Commercial Officer, said members using obesity drugs alongside their program lose 11% more weight on average than those using medication alone.
Once famous for its diet plans, cookbooks, and community meetings, WeightWatchers—rebranded as WW—now embraces prescription drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, which have changed obesity treatment worldwide. Studies show that weight often returns if medication stops without lifestyle changes, and WeightWatchers aims to fill this gap.
James Hunt, Deputy CEO of CheqUp, said the program combines science-backed tools with a supportive community to help patients maintain weight loss.
The UK deal mirrors a similar US strategy as WeightWatchers positions itself as a key partner in medical weight loss. While GLP-1 drug use is lower in the UK, experts call on the NHS to improve access to combat rising obesity-related health problems.
As WeightWatchers moves away from its old diet focus, it hopes that combining medication support with coaching and community will revive the brand. This new chapter shows the company’s commitment to the growing world of prescription weight loss.
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