Weight Watchers International Founder Dies at 91
Jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers International, Inc., died April 29th at her home in Florida. Nidetch was 91 years old and is survived by her son, David Nidetch and three grandchildren.
Nidetch created the innovative meeting concept based on popular gatherings of friends who wanted to lose weight in her Queens, N.Y. living room. She founded Weight Watchers in 1963 and today the program is the most clinically studied commercial provider of weight management services operating globally through a network of company-owned and franchise operations.
Throughout her life, Nidetch continued to advocate for the advancement of women in business and politics. In addition to Weight Watchers, she established the Jean Nidetch Women's Center and Scholarship program at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas for students who have overcome adversity to achieve their academic goals and the Jean Nidetch Dissertation Award at the University of California at Los Angeles.
In 2013, Weight Watchers celebrated its 50th anniversary by dedicating its flagship center in New York City as the Weight Watchers Jean Nidetch Center, which features archival imagery of the weight loss pioneer. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed March 25, 2013, "Weight Watchers Founder Celebration Day," honoring the New York native whose passion for helping others ignited a weight loss revolution.
Today, the Weight Watchers model that Nidetch founded five decades ago continues to evolve as new scientific knowledge comes to light, ensuring that the program reflects and incorporates the latest evidence on nutrition and behavior change.
Nidetch created the innovative meeting concept based on popular gatherings of friends who wanted to lose weight in her Queens, N.Y. living room. She founded Weight Watchers in 1963 and today the program is the most clinically studied commercial provider of weight management services operating globally through a network of company-owned and franchise operations.
Throughout her life, Nidetch continued to advocate for the advancement of women in business and politics. In addition to Weight Watchers, she established the Jean Nidetch Women's Center and Scholarship program at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas for students who have overcome adversity to achieve their academic goals and the Jean Nidetch Dissertation Award at the University of California at Los Angeles.
In 2013, Weight Watchers celebrated its 50th anniversary by dedicating its flagship center in New York City as the Weight Watchers Jean Nidetch Center, which features archival imagery of the weight loss pioneer. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed March 25, 2013, "Weight Watchers Founder Celebration Day," honoring the New York native whose passion for helping others ignited a weight loss revolution.
Today, the Weight Watchers model that Nidetch founded five decades ago continues to evolve as new scientific knowledge comes to light, ensuring that the program reflects and incorporates the latest evidence on nutrition and behavior change.