Weight Watchers is changing its name — here's why

Erin Donnelly
·Yahoo Life Senior Editor

Miss America has dropped its swimsuit competition, the Boy Scouts are ushering in a more gender-neutral name change, and now comes word that Weight Watchers is no more — under that name, anyway.

Weight Watchers is getting a wellness makeover. (Photo: Patty C./iStock/Getty Images)
Weight Watchers is getting a wellness makeover. (Photo: Patty C./iStock/Getty Images)

On Monday morning Weight Watchers CEO and president Mindy Grossman appeared on Today to share an important announcement: The organization will now be known as WW, with the tagline “Wellness That Works.”

While Grossman noted that the 55-year-old company “will never abdicate our leadership in [being] the best healthy eating program for weight loss in the world,” it’s also looking to expand its offerings to appeal to anyone seeking wellness guidance.

To quote the brand-new WW Twitter account, its goal is to “inspire healthy habits for real life — for everyone.”

In an interview with the BBC, Grossman clarified that WW does not necessarily stand for Weight Watchers. She added that the new name would help the program “stay relevant” while also addressing topics behind shedding pounds.

“The paradox is that everyone is talking about wellness and nobody wants to use [the words] diet or weight, but we’re not getting healthier,” she said.

Whether the rebranding will entail less calorie counting and more Goop-style advice for the masses remains to be seen. It’s also worth noting that Oprah Winfrey owns a significant stake in the company. If anyone can come for Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness queen crown, it’s O.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.