Twitter Reacts to WW Offering Memberships to Teens
This week, Weight Watchers announced they're offering teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 free six-week memberships during the summer of 2018 to help "the development of healthy habits at a critical life stage," according to the company's press release.
Because it's well-documented that dieting - particularly at a young age - is a precursor to developing disordered eating habits, the response to Weight Watcher's announcement has been particularly brutal:
Hey, @WeightWatchers. Maybe we should rethink the idea of encouraging restrictive eating & glorified calorie counting during a CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE in a person’s life. Offering free memberships to teens isn’t developing health habits; it’s promoting a life of self-hatred.
- Caitlin Mack (@CaitlinMack1) February 9, 2018
Between the ages of 12-15 is when girls’ body satisfaction starts to hit low levels due to societal pressure, so YEAH LETS SHOW THEM HOW TO COUNT POINTS AND RESTRICT pic.twitter.com/pgGGYceHWN
- Gina (@nourishandeat) February 9, 2018
This would cause harm SO much harm.
1. Teens should be gaining it as they grow, NOT losing it.
2. They already get enough BS messages that they need to change.
3. Dieting at that age greatly increases risk of eating disorders.
THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.#BoycottWeightWatchers https://t.co/Wf0GG6aaTK- Emily Louise (@walkswithcrocs) February 9, 2018
