There have been a whirlwind of changes for WW members in recent months. Read on for the latest information about program changes for Weight Watchers members in 2023, including closing studios and more.
Please note, I am a fellow WW member like you and do not represent or work for Weight Watchers. This post is for general information only. Contact WW at 1(800)651-6000 or via their chat feature for any questions about your membership.
Weight Watchers Closing Studios in 2023
WeightWatchers has made the decision to close or change the location of many in-person studios due to decreased attendance. Changes will begin March 26, 2023.
Some studios will remain open but may change meeting times.
The notification listed under the location is, “As of March 26, we’ll have a NEW schedule at this Studio. Please check times before heading to a Workshop. We can’t wait to see you!”
Other WW programs will continuing meetings but will change locations, going back to meeting in churches, hotels, and VA halls.
Other locations will close meetings all together and only virtual meetings will be offered.
The notification states, “After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close this WW Studio as of 3/26/23. At WW, we’re still committed to providing coaching and a community to help you reach your goals. Please join us at one of our virtual Workshops. You can browse our coaches and find a virtual Workshop time by selection Virtual here in the Workshop Finder. We can’t wait to welcome you!”
WW virtual (zoom) workshops led by local leaders will also be closing. National virtual workshops will continue and be available at my times throughout the day.
How to Check on the Status of Your WW Workshops
Here’s how to check on the status of WW in-person meetings in your area.
In the WW app, follow these steps:
- Click the menu (3 bars) on the top left side of your app.
- Click “Find a workshop”. Be sure it is under “In Person” and not “Virtual”.
- Type in your zip code.
- Review the locations in your area.
You may also use the WW chat feature in the app to ask a question, or call Weight Watchers at 1(800)651-6000.
WW Lifetime Membership Changes
How will Lifetime status work for members if there is not an in-person meeting in their area for them to weigh in?
Current WW Lifetime members who are not within a 50 mile radius of an in-person Workshop received the following email.
“Good news! Your WW account has been extended by 334 days! You’re all set – there’s nothing else you need to do. You’re still enrolled in our recur billing system, so your monthly billing date has also been extended. Your next recur billing date is set for 3/01/2024. Have a great week! Your WW team.”
If you did not receive the email and are a Lifetime member without an in-person meeting near you, contact WW through the chat feature or their 1-800 number to confirm that you received a one year extension.
WW Medical Weight Loss Program Announced
Last week, WW announced that they are acquired the program Sequence, which offers telehealth visits for prescription weight loss medications. Click here for full details on the WW Medication program.
WeightWatchers Points Plan for 2022 and 2023
Weight Watchers surprised members at the end of 2022 by introducing an updated points program for weight loss. Click here to learn about the WW Program for 2022 and 2023 and click here for a free PDF printable of the 200+ zero point foods.
Keep the Weight Loss Going
The good news is that Weight Watchers is NOT closing their program. There have been many big changes since Sima Sistani became the Company’s CEO a little over a year ago. WW continues to be the industry leader in weight loss in the United States and throughout the world.
As someone who has been a WW member for over 20 years, I know these changes are not easy for many of us. While I don’t have all the answers, rest assured that I am not going anywhere. I am committed to offering you weight loss support through The Holy Mess for a long time to come.
Here are some helpful resources for your weight loss journey as we move forward:
New! The Holy Mess Spring Weight Loss Challenge – Join me for this 30 day group weight loss experience in April of 2023. Enrollment open now. Click here to learn more about the Weight Loss Challenge that is a great fit for WW members.
The Holy Mess 3 Day Diet – As featured in Woman’s World magazine, based on the WW zero point food list.
WW 7 Day Basic Meal Plan – Free weekly meal plan for WW with free printable
Is your Weight Watchers Meeting closing? 4 Steps to Take to Keep the Weight Loss Going – Video where I give you four tips for managing the change.
How do you feel about these WW program changes and studio closings? Share about it in the comments below.
Maybe the need to cut back should come fro the top down. Shame on you! The meeting leaders are much more important and the meeting days and times are far more important than all the corporate leaders. Trim back on them, leave the meeting leaders alone.
Very bad decision. You move will destroy weight Watchers.
It is a total shame on WW that they are doing ads on tv about WW but yet they are closing studios the new CEO IS A TOTAL pathetic disgrace you don’t care about your members only the money I will not drive 150 miles round trip to go to a dam meeting
Oprah just f’d her peeps
We were told our studio is closing. We have a large group of wonderful people who have become family and our leader is the best. I now believe that WW is only interested in their financial gain and not in the people. Their program has changed at least yearly. If it works why keep changing? The human contact and Support we give each other is something you can’t get virtually. Now they are promoting medications. Money isn’t everything but to them maybe it is.
Do you really think closing down studios is a benefit to the members or is it what you perceive as a financial benefit to you?
Now I hear that lifetime members only have to weight once a year such a dumb idea instead of closing studios find a different meeting location apparently the new leadership doesn’t care about their members only money and money going with diet pills is another hair brain how utterly stupid and disgusting
Our leader said she thinks Lifetime will be discontinued when the year is up.
Ww sucks closing my studio now the closest one is 75 miles away which is bullshit I am NOT driving 150 to a dam meeting we had 4 meetings locations in northern wisconsin then Covid hit and we lost 3 and now ww is closing our only in person studio they don’t give a dam about their members they only care about the money so good bye ww I am done
We had a wonderful studio and WW closed it and put us in a run-down church with dirty floors and broken sidewalks which I fell down on a couple of months ago. If WW is trying to run it in the ground, they’re doing a good job of it.
I am very sad to lose the accountability aspect of weighing in monthly. AND how will WW figure out your weight in a year so you can keep your membership? I will not drive 50+ miles to weigh in.
This is an obvious ploy to make even more money. Without accountability, we may well gain the weight back and have to start paying again! I for one don’t ever play to pay WW for weight loss again. Hopefully I won’t regain my lost weight, but if I do, I will find another plan.
I’m with you. Should be interesting to see what happens over this year but I do not plan to pay WW another penny.
They could of just extended the e-tools but we still need to weigh in once a month when you want within that month Accountable
The diet pills is so opposites of what they are all about ….just weird
You know the saying, nothing is constant but change, and change has hit WW. Our workshops were totally closed and our group is trying to come up with ideas so we can all stick together to support each other. Anyone else doing the same?
Since it’s always about the money first, I wonder if WW will lower the monthly fee since we’ll have less access. Digital only is not a good substitute.
Very disappointed with WW! No way am I traveling 40 plus minutes in HEAVY traffic to attend a meeting.
As far as attending a virtual meeting (of which I heard you and can do at almost any time suitable to your schedule) my first choice was for Wed. 5:00 pm. Guess what — no meetings at that time.
So what happened to all our virtual local staff. Are they now unemployed?
Not a happy camper with WW.
I went for my 13th anniversary of Lifetime weigh in today. I was surprised NOT to be given a charm. Really? They don’t cost all that much and they are not that many of us. Think we deserve a little something in recognition. It is hard work to maintain, especially through the pandemic years and I personally had medical issues requiring me to take heavy steroids that made me gain weight for 3 years. I am happy to be off them and to have lost all the weight. However, it was hard going and required persistence.
Way to go on 13 years of Maintenance! That’s an incredible accomplishment. xoxo
Seriously??? You never answered her !!! Why no charm? Finances really that tight?
Quite honestly, I left WW about five years ago. I started following the Target 100 book, a plan written by Liz Josefsberg, ironically an ex WW Manager, and it has served me well. It was hard for me to leave, as I was a member for decades but the newer plans no longer worked. I feel so sorry for current members. This world, sorrowfully, is not what it was and neither is Weight Watchers. God bless you all.
I am happy to say that you have given me free tools for the next 365 days! However, every meeting that I have attended for many many years, the thing that I hear at every meeting is how the meetings keep you accountable. I believe by shutting down so many workshops will make it even harder for a person to stick with the program and to reach their goal.
My thoughts exactly! For me it’s all about the accountability.
Love my leader, & group and hope they keep it together at the new location.
So disappointed to hear this change. I can’t believe WW has gone this direction. It’s a fact that in person meetings make a difference in successful weight loss. Bottom line is that it is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY for WW Corporation. 😡😔
I want to cancel the intermittent fasting program I just signed on for. [email protected] gmail.com
Hi Evelyn, We don’t have any IF programs currently at The Holy Mess. There is a free one-page printable with a prayer for fasting. If you have further questions, you can contact us anytime at [email protected].
l agree with every word…when l called to speak to a rep yesterday at corporate, she offered up the no weighing for a year…no thanks…and when l did an online chat, they offered up $5 snack coupons…REALLY??!! l’d rather as Lifetime go back to paying every month if we could keep our live meetings!!!!
for all of you struggling with weight…….WW doesn’t work…….join the Livy Method……it works!
The livy method is amazing. She KNOWS what she is talking about. And the science behind it is amazing.
I am very disappointed in WW. I hate the fact I am not being held accountable with my weight loss. We have friends we have made at our meetings. And our leader is a friend too. Now they have all lost their job. Seems like Ww don’t care about us anymore,
This is absolutely ridiculous!!! I have taken weight loss meds in the past and guess what I joined Weight Watchers to learn how to lose weight and keep it off not take meds to do it. Yes the meds work for a quick fix but if you don’t change your eating habits and mind set the weight will come back when you stop taking the meds!!! Closing the workshops in my opinion is a huge mistake. The meetings help give me a sort of accountability. Now if I want to go to an in person workshop I have to drive over an hour one way. Thanks weight watchers, I really hope you rethink this!
Amen, Tammy!
Amen
I am just a little in shock. I understand some people might need a boost, but over weight people first have to figure out the emotional issue causing over eating. Medication is just a bandaid. I saw a commercial stating “ if you have a obese child ages 8-12ish get them in physical activity etc” my first thought well, just get them outside and play with them🥴 my kids grew up outside and with a WW mom😂 The next age group was 13-18 you might consider surgery!!! What!!!! Surgery for weight loss in someone so young!! We have got to get back to basics!!! So, I am very disappointed WW has jumped on the medication weight loss band wagon. The program works, it’s just HARD work, but the best lessons in life are hard work😊
I am extremely disappointed with WW decreasing studio meetings and going with weight loss drugs. I was hoping as we suffered through meetings being on line through Covid lock downs that more studio’s would be opening, not closing. In person studio meetings have been proven to be more successful. I have been a WW for over 40 years now and I have never been more afraid of a great program coming to an end. I have maintained an 80# weight loss and have many more pounds to go to goal. We have a wonderful coach and in person studio meetings with a great community. Changes are being made to our studio location, not closed yet, but seems like maybe that is weight watchers’s goal? I took a weight loss drug many years ago, phen phen, it worked great until it didn’t. I ended up with a heart murmur from the medication and it stopped controlling my hunger.I think greed has taken over with weight watchers instead of the love and care of the past.
Lots in the Chicago area closed too. I am certainly not going to drive miles to the suburbs for an in person meeting! I actually found a virtual group I really like that isn’t even in Illinois–maybe 20 people and a great coach. I understand these are ending. You can still attend a virtual meeting but it is huge and impersonal.
I am disappointed, angry, and abhorred! As a Lifetime Member, I resent the new concept of only weighing in once a year – in doing this, WW has set us up for failure, in not needing to be accountable (but it’s all about the MONEY, isn’t it?!). WW has always stood for slow and steady weight loss, based upon eating healthy foods (but not exclusively) and maintaining portion control. Without a framework, guide, and accountability, especially through attending meetings, WW is ensuring that its members will certainly “go down,” hence making us pay more in the end.
And medication – WHAT THE HECK??? Why not think about those of us who already take medications which might interact with those pushed by WW? Again, this puts us at a disadvantage.
Is this Lindora? What makes WW any different (minus weighing in daily)?
And let me guess, the prices will also increase…again, WW wins (and we lose)!
Thanks for no longer caring about our well-being, WW!
So disappointed that this is happening. Virtual meetings do not do it for me. I have to be accountable in person. We are also losing two of our great leaders is not sitting right with me. Another example of business dismantling a great organization. So so sad.
I’m really sad about the closing of the studios. I will miss all my friends that I made along the way. I just hope they don’t do away with the program.
I’m happy that you will be here to help us and motivate us and keep us plugging along. 🙂
It doesn’t say they are closing all studios just the ones with decreased membership
Our meeting is being closed and our membership numbers are up. What’s the rationale behind that?
My studio just north of San Francisco is packed! We have a huge group. It’s not about attendance. They closed all in person workshops in San Francisco and Marin County. The closest workshop is now almost 40 miles away. I feel abandoned and betrayed by corporate greed.
Thank you so much Sara for continued support! I wonder what else they have up their selves?
My local WW workshop closed during Covid and never reopened. Now the only next option is I have is a small 90 minute window on Saturday mornings. Prior to all these closures, if I couldn’t make the meeting time I could go in during business hours, no biggie. Well without any other options, I am at goal but can’t physically make it to weigh in. I tried the “personal points” program and for the first time got over goal and couldn’t get back. Then they updated it and did a “Blue 2.0” version (I had been successful on Purple for getting back if I went slightly over). Tried that for a few months, nope. They need to at least offer a version for members to track everything except fruits/veggies if they want to. So I cancelled and am using Healthi along wtih the info my apple watch app provides to make sure calories consumed is always under calories burned and finally started seeing the scale go down.
What version are you using on Healthi? I was on the purple plan as well and have been unsuccessful on the new ones. I actually liked an older version of weight watchers which was before free foods. I was most successful on it.
I thought something was fishy when I got that lifetime member email. My location is remaining open with day and time changes. Says to check back on March 26.
The world is changing and I get that. Weight Watchers has made the approach to weight loss realistic for many over the years.
This change, especially after the acquisition of Sequence, is NOT conducive to healthy weight practices.
People losing jobs, becoming part-time employees and clients losing out, at the last minute, is not great business practices.
I’m extremely disappointed in what Weight Watchers stood for and the now perception of weight loss in the future.
A pill for quick weight loss, even with a Dr.’s prescription is unrealistic.
You’ve now tarnished a name along with losing to gaining profitability.
I am so disappointed with Weight Watchers closing in person workshops. This is a sucker punch to those of us that have been long time loyal members. I refuse to do virtual as it is of no help to me. Paying the same monthly fee for that with no benefit is just a waste of time. They say they are closing workshops with low attendance but that is not true. The three in my area were all showing great attendance. We meet in a hotel. If the rent is too high for that then go back to churches. I don’t care where they are held as long as our group can get together face to face. Weight Watchers has lost their collective minds and I am sure Jean Nieditch is rolling over in her grave.
The ONLY way to lose and keep off the weight are in person meetings.
As a member on and off since 1972, I know this for a fact. Whenever I’ve stopped returning to meetings I’ve put the weight back on. It’s not just will power. It’s sharing our journey.
This is so sad. Meetings are or were the backbone of Weight Watchers! When they went to virtual meetings I knew the end was near. Virtual meetings may be cheaper but you get what you pay for. Once again corporate greed wins. 😠
I disagree with the people who don’t like zoom meetings because I’ve been lucky enough to find three amazing leaders, and I really enjoy meeting and discussing things and they interact with us. And you get to see the same members over and over and they can exchange information and keep in touch. Works for me and I’ve maintained my almost 90 pound weight loss with no problem …even during Covid I lost additional few pounds within my weight range and stay at lifetime. So to each his own. I kind of like the idea of zooming because you get to see peoples faces instead of the back of their heads in the meeting room that might be infested with Covid germs. And there are no studios anywhere‘s near me anyway and my doctor said to stay out of group gatherings indoors so this works. So there are lots of different ways of dealing with this, but the basic thing is to continue to eat healthy, watch your portion, sizes, getting some activity, which, for me is walking my dogs during the day, over and over again, and getting group support from others. And actually about a half a dozen to a dozen of us meet weekly in person in our neighborhood from the meetings that were shut down and won’t be reopened and we do just fine, with masks, or outdoors. There’s lots of ways of keeping the weight watcher program going! But I will admit it took me 40 years to get it, right.
Maybe you guys could start your own WW in-home meetings. I have made quite a few friends at the WW meetings and mentioned in~home meetings to them and they sounded interested.
All the local Zoom meetings have ended, you will only have your choice of the national Zooms. If that’s what you have been part of, then you won’t see a change. But if you have been used to seeing your local leaders on Zoom, they are gone.
I’m sad , mad, and very disappointed that All Brooklyn locations will close. How can the organization just drop an entire bourough…..the people that have supported this company through the years? There will be no in person locations for an entire borough. Not one! This translates to although we thought the company cared for us… it doesn’t really! I’m not talking about staff, they have been great but the upper directors, board…they just don’t care. This isn’t the weight watchers that I knew since 1963… Very disappointing. People need to to elsewhere, I guess. The cache of WW has just gone down…..
Same here in Coachella Valley California, where Palm Springs and NINE other towns are located! Not one in person meeting left, and I just joined workshops in January because I need meetings, not just online.
They signed me up for a 10 month workshop program, and must have known at that time of upcoming major changes. Sleazy!
I don’t think it’s fair that WW can constantly change their program because it doesn’t work for many,but we can’t cancel our membership. We have to keep paying them for a plan that is not working for us!
I’m disappointed in some of the changes. Specifically – joining the current fad of using diabetic drug for weight loss.
I do support those who have honestly tried, behavioral changes that do not work for them – these folks need to get with their personal physicians to discuss options. WW should not be dispensing medical advice.
I am Lifetime and I do appreciate the gesture of the extension- but it is a bit counter productive to their founding principles! It seems to be a peace offering as they take away so many in person meetings!
Come on weight Watchers – you can do BETTER!! 😢