There was a time when Weight Watchers was THE reference for losing weight. Created in 1963 in the United States and imported a decade later to France, the program has won over millions of users, mainly women. Because with WW for Wellness that works, there is no need to ban your favorite products from your diet. Pain au chocolat? It's okay. The burgers? Also. Each food represents a number of points. The only constraint: participants must not “eat” more than 23 points per day. It's up to them to organize themselves as they wish. For years, ambassadors have touted the program, showcasing their weight loss with before and after photos of the WW diet. Among the stars of the program: the very influential American presenter Oprah Winfrey.
But that was before. Because last February, the host announced that she was leaving her place on the group's board of directors. The same day, Weight Watchers shares fell 23.5%. Oprah Winfrey has not only distanced herself from society, she has publicly revealed that she uses prescription medications to manage her weight. Although she did not mention names, two treatments were authorized in the United States at that time: Wegovy from Novo Nordisk and Zepbound from Eli Lilly. But this type of medication is Weight Watchers’ nightmare.
A loss of 80% of its stock market value in one year
Having become a real fashion phenomenon, they are selling like hot cakes across the Atlantic. Initially intended for the treatment of diabetes, their use was diverted for weight loss purposes. Ozempic, this injectable pen, has gone viral on social networks, worn by stars like Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla, the American actress Amy Schumer and even the singer Robbie Williams. The first lost 13kg thanks to these drugs which slow gastric emptying. So obviously, the WW program took a hit.
In one year, the group lost 80% of its stock market value. Its action even fell below the dollar mark. As for its CEO, Sima Sistani, she has been disembarked. According to information from the media l'Informé, the group has also announced the closure of its three subsidiaries in France by the end of the year with around a hundred layoffs as a result. A descent into hell heralding a revolution: the era of appetite suppressant drugs has arrived. The Novo Nordisk laboratory, creator of Ozempic and Wegovy in particular, is the largest market capitalization in Europe. The company's value even exceeded Denmark's GDP.
The Shadow of the Pick
So obviously, Weight Watchers has changed its tune. After having criticized these appetite suppressant drugs, the group will finally propose to integrate the drug Wegovy into one of its weight loss programs. An announcement which brought back some color to the company with a 47% increase in its shares just after this declaration. “At WeightWatchers, we have always combined proven science and personalized support to help our members achieve meaningful, lasting results. With the addition of compound semaglutide, we are expanding our offerings to include a clinical weight management solution that is both accessible and accessible. and affordable”, said Tara Comonte, Interim CEO of WeightWatchers.
However, studies on the unwanted side effects of these drugs are beginning to multiply and are not reassuring. Two studies, including one published on December 11, carried out by scientists in Denmark and Norway, point to an increased risk of blindness for people taking Ozempic. In detail, patients injecting Ozempic would have twice the risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), i.e. swelling of the optic nerve which can lead to loss of vision. This phenomenon would however be very rare, according to the researchers. “It must be emphasized that these are neither more serious nor more frequent side effects than the rare side effects of many other drugs that we continue to use,” underlined Anton Pottegard, the professor who supervised the study.
Another study published in October 2023 also showed links between these drugs and severe gastrointestinal conditions such as obstructions or pancreatitis. In France, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has also placed Ozempic under “reinforced surveillance” due to the diversion of its use. Enough to slow down the rise of these miracle products? For now, they seem untouchable. But the shadow of the Mediator scandal, a drug for diabetics misused for decades to lose weight, still looms in France. There are hundreds of deaths due to heart damage.
