WeightWatchers 2008 Annual Report Download - page 8

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Please find page 8 of the 2008 WeightWatchers annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

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rise, the need for Weight Watchers has never been
greater. According to the Centers of Disease Control
and Prevention, over 66% of Americans over the age
of 19 are considered overweight, and almost half of
these are obese. In an effort to explore better ways
to control societal costs, we have partnered with
various corporate organizations and government
agencies around the world to help stem this epidemic.
For instance, in 2008, we collaborated with the
Cleveland Clinic, known for its cardiac and medical
care, to promote employee wellness by providing its
employees with our services. With ever-escalating
healthcare costs, and an increased focus on
preventative healthcare, we are in a unique position to
be part of the preventative healthcare solution.
We encourage our members and potential members
that the decision to invest in a healthier life is not a
luxury but a necessity. This distinction is especially
compelling given the backdrop of a weakened global
economy and consumers being more discerning and
selective in how they spend their disposable income
as a whole. We see the economic challenges that
we face today as an opportunity to convey our value
proposition: with Weight Watchers, our members
eat regular food, purchased from their local grocery
stores. In the scheme of a typical consumer’s
monthly budget, we believe our price points are well
worth their value given the goal of a healthier life
and reduced healthcare costs. We will continue to
emphasize that there is no better way to lose weight
and keep it off than with Weight Watchers.
One way we leveraged this message was through the
Lose for Good™ promotional and charitable campaign
we launched in the fall 2008. This was our fi rst
grassroots effort that simultaneously addressed two
global epidemics: obesity as well as chronic hunger
and malnutrition. We encouraged our members to
donate food in levels that matched their own weight
loss – thereby empowering our members to improve
their own health while simultaneously helping those
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