About Us

History & philosophy

Our history then and now Weight Watchers has been helping people achieve their goals for more than 40 years. Since we began, Weight Watchers International has helped millions of people worldwide to lose weight. But Weight Watchers had very humble beginnings. In the early 60's, Jean Nidetch, an American woman from Queens, New York, discovered the best way to control her weight was to be able to eat normal food and talk to friends and other people who could understand, and support her. Jean invited some friends to her house for a coffee one day and asked if they'd join her in following a medical diet recommended to her by her hospital dietician.

They agreed to meet regularly just to talk about how they were getting on. Jean started holding meetings in other people's houses too and the group began to expand. She teamed up with businessman Al Lippert and together they founded Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers in Australia and New Zealand Weight Watchers opened its doors in Australia in April 1969, in a small room in George Street, Sydney. New Zealand followed a few years later, weighing its first Member in Auckland in October 1972. Decades later there are now more than 2,000 meetings held each week across Australia and New Zealand run by nearly 1,000 Leaders who have also lost weight successfully with Weight Watchers.

Key highlights: In the early 60's, one American woman discovered the best way to control weight was to be able to eat normal food and talk to people who could understand. Weight Watchers International has today helped millions of people worldwide to lose weight. Weight Watchers is still the largest weight-loss organisation in Australasia.