Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With New Name, Weight Watchers Shifts Focus To Wellness Since Diet 'Is More Short-Term, Punitive Kind Of Issue'
Want to lose weight? That鈥檚 what Weight Watchers is doing in the name of ... a new name. The wellness behemoth its dropping its brand name in exchange for something slimmer: 鈥淲W.鈥 The company says the new logo -- coupled with the tagline 鈥淲ellness that Works鈥 -- puts an emphasis on overall health and well being, with less of a concerted focus on counting calories and shedding pounds. The logo 鈥淲W鈥 has been used before, including in the company鈥檚 current app, but Monday marks the start of a company-wide overhaul. But not all are convinced that 鈥淲W鈥 is a winner, and that it may instead confuse potential customers tripping over a double-letter tongue-twister. (Siegel, 9/24)
In February, the company鈥檚 Chief Executive Mindy Grossmantold stock analysts the 鈥渨orld doesn鈥檛 need another diet.鈥 Instead, she said, customers need help becoming healthier. WW also said Monday that it will launch new products to reflect the company鈥檚 focus. Customers who sign up for the 鈥淲ellnessWins鈥 program, for example, earn 鈥淲ins鈥 for tracking meals, activities, weight and for attending WW Wellness Workshops that they can redeem for products and services. It will be launched for all WW customers in the U.S. on Oct. 4. The firm is also creating what it calls 鈥淐onnect Groups,鈥 each of which is built around a theme like food, activities or 鈥淟ife Stages,鈥 according to WW. (Maidenberg, 9/24)