WeightWatchers Publishes New Research on Weight Health and Shifting Attitudes in The Workplace

WeightWatchers for Business found 69% of respondents want weight health benefits from their employer, signaling new expectations for workplace healthcare coverage

NEW YORK, Thursday, October 17, 2024 -WeightWatchers (NASDAQ: WW), ("WeightWatchers," "WW," or the "Company"), today published new research from WeightWatchers for Business, titled Shifting Perspectives: Weight Health and the Workplace, illustrating how today's population views weight healthcare, and what employees increasingly expect from their employers. The survey polled 1,000 U.S. respondents, ages 18 and above. The key themes from the report include:

• A drastic shift in public perception with 61% of respondents viewing obesity as a chronic disease. This heightened understanding of obesity as a chronic disease, like diabetes or heart disease, signals a pivotal shift and is a key marker of progress, reflecting the growing alignment between consumer perceptions and the established views of the medical community. This empowers individuals to seek weight care and helps to cultivate more compassionate and supportive societal attitudes toward those living with overweight and obesity.
• Hindered by barriers to weight healthcare, 1 in 5 respondents report limited or non-existent access to weight healthcare and obesity specialists, and compounding this challenge, 51% cite cost as a major factor impacting their ability to access care. These challenges restrict many individuals living with obesity and overweight from receiving essential weight healthcare, leading many to seek covered benefits from their employers.
• A desire for more support with 69% of respondents wanting their employer to offer weight healthcare solutions. Employees are calling for a more holistic approach to weight healthcare as a fully covered benefit. In fact, 61% of respondents placed weight healthcare services on their benefit wish lists, second only to behavioral and mental health services (67%), followed by child and elder care assistance (37%) and maternal/fertility health services (27%). Employers who recognize this important change in public perception and get creative to respond to these desires will have a unique opportunity for differentiation as they compete to attract, engage, and retain top talent.

"Every individual living with overweight or obesity should have access to effective prevention and treatment options at their fingertips," said Scott Honken, PharmD, Chief Commercial Officer at WeightWatchers. "With our long-standing expertise in science-backed weight management and ongoing evolution as a holistic end-to-end weight health platform, WeightWatchers for Business is uniquely positioned to provide employers and payers with proven, innovative solutions that can enhance health outcomes across acuity levels and cardiometabolic conditions, effectively meeting consumer demand while lowering overall healthcare costs."

Honken, who has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including digital health and managed care, will be speaking on Monday, Oct. 21 at HLTH 2024 in a panel session titled, "GLP-1s Going Under-Covered," which will dive deep into the employer's role in providing access to GLP-1s and taking a balanced approach to weight healthcare. Learn more here. You can also find WeightWatchers for Business on site at the conference in Las Vegas, October 20-23, 2024 by visiting Booth #2422.

Shifting Perspectives: Weight Health and the Workplace further enriches the Company's extensive research library. As the most studied commercially available weight healthcare program, WeightWatchers has been the subject of over 160 published papers, 38 of which come from randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and impact of WeightWatchers programs. Most recently, WeightWatchers for Business released its Full-Spectrum Weight Health Platform Results Report, highlighting the powerful combination of clinical and behavioral interventions for weight loss performance and maintenance. Notably, findings revealed members who combined clinical and behavioral interventions lost 11% more weight¹.

WeightWatchers for Business delivers a best-in-class, full-spectrum weight health platform from digital lifestyle interventions to clinically-proven tools for employers and health plans to expand access, improve weight health and control costs, while helping more individuals achieve their desired weight health goals both on and off the scale. WeightWatchers for Business' Full-Spectrum Weight Health Platform Results Report reveals members who utilized behavioral intervention saw positive quality of life impacts such as, 40.5% increase in self-esteem,² 9.9% increase in physical function² and 3.6% improvement at work². WeightWatchers also developed a tailored behavior change program for people living with type I or type II diabetes. Findings from the report show statistically significant results for members living with diabetes at six months including a 0.75 decrease in HbA1c³.

"These results showcase the profound value of WeightWatchers for Business' full-spectrum platform in supporting individuals on their weight health journey through collaboration with employers, health plans and partners," said Honken. "We are deeply committed to expanding weight health access, improving outcomes, and controlling costs for those we serve. By leveraging proven science, our deep expertise in technology, the behavioral and clinical aspects of weight health, and strategic partnerships with organizations like CVS, Personify Health and Labcorp, we are turning this vision into real-world impact."

To explore our complete library of WeightWatchers for Business research and resources, please visit here.

About WW International, Inc.

WeightWatchers is a human-centric technology company powered by our proven, science-based, clinically effective weight loss and weight management programs. For six decades, we have inspired millions of people to adopt healthy habits for real life. We combine technology and community to help members reach and sustain their goals on our programs. To learn more about the WeightWatchers approach to healthy living, please visit ww.com and WeightWatchers for Business at ww.com/forbusiness. For more information about our global business, visit our corporate website at corporate.ww.com.

For more information, contact:

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¹Based on an analysis of virtual clinic member data at 4 weeks of membership comparing those who initiate WW's behavior change program and those who don't completed in Jan 2024

² Pagoto S, Xu R, Bullard T, et al. An Evaluation of a Personalized Multicomponent Commercial Digital Weight Management Program: Single-Arm Behavioral Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e44955.

³ Apolzan JW, LaRose JG, Anton SD, Beyl RA, Greenway FL, Wickham III EP, Lanoye A, Harris MN, Martin CK, Bullard T, Foster GD. A scalable, virtual weight management program tailored for adults with type 2 diabetes: effects on glycemic control. Nutrition & Diabetes. 2023 Apr 6;13(1):3.

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