If you’re a Weight Watchers affiliate or a health blogger who planned to join the Weight Watchers affiliate program, you may be asking yourself a few questions right now.
Weight Watchers recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a move to strategically eliminate $1.15 billion in debt. This move is supposed to position the company for future long-term growth and success.
Despite the gloomy sentiment, this is actually very good news for affiliates. In fact, the company reassured that this move does not affect customers and it’s business as usual. So affiliates are not going to be affected by this action either.
The Weight Watchers affiliate program, which runs through the Impact affiliate network remains active. You can continue to promote Weight Watchers as you normally would. If you’re considering signing up, you can go ahead and fill out the application.
Weight Watchers has stated that they plan to be out of bankruptcy in about 45 days which is great news for all parties.
A Quick Break-down of the Weight Watchers Bankruptcy Situation
Weight Watchers made the decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a strategic move to deal with over $1.15 billion in debt. The 62 year old company has faced some significant challenges:
- A struggling stock price that peaked at over $100 in 2018 but has fallen below $1 since February 2024
- A 45% stock drop following the bankruptcy announcement, reaching $0.43 per share
- The departure of prominent spokesperson Oprah Winfrey in 2024, who left the board after disclosing her use of weight loss medication
- A 10% decline in first-quarter revenue
Despite these difficulties, Weight Watchers is seeing growth in its clinical subscription revenue, which increased 57% year-over-year to $29.5 million. Interim CEO Tara Comonte, who replaced former CEO Sima Sistani last fall, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing “trusted, science-backed, and holistic solutions” as consumer focus shifts toward long-term health.
By filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy which provides for reorganization, Weight Watchers can continue to do business instead of having to shut down.
The company plans to restructure their debt quickly with a goal of 45 days to completion. Their normal operations will not be affected and they’ll remain a publicly traded company after they’ve emerged from the process.
This means that for affiliates, you do not need to worry about anything at all. The bankruptcy is only a corporate thing that has no bearing on their day-to-day operations.
The Weight Watchers Affiliate Program Status
The Weight Watchers affiliate program remains ACTIVE.
Despite the bankruptcy situation, Weight Watchers says that the move does not affect their normal operations. It’s still business as usual which means affiliates can still confidently refer customers.
This is just a temporary situation where their strategic filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy should erase billions from their balance sheet and position them for a more stable and successful future.
Currently, Weight Watchers pays $10 in commissions for each subscription you send them through your affiliate marketing efforts.
They operate their affiliate program through the popular Impact affiliate network although their main program is for US-only affiliates, there are separate affiliate programs for international affiliates in the following countries:
I didn’t see any for ROW (Rest of the World), so it looks like only these countries can currently participate and get paid through the Weight Watchers affiliate program.
There’s also an affiliate program available through Flexoffers but you’d still need to be approved if you apply. However, if you’re not from any of the countries above and thinking of promoting Weight Watchers, it doesn’t hurt to try this option.
Why This Could Actually Be Good News for Affiliates
The Weight Watchers bankruptcy news on the surface might sound a bit gloomy if you’re already an affiliate but it actually has a great outlook for the future.
Besides being the #1 doctor-recommended weight loss program, their offerings now include prescription weight-loss meds containing GPL-1 (the same active ingredient in similar medications like Wegovy and Ozempic.
Their decision to include weight-loss medication aligns with current market trends and with their new clinical subscription model, Weight Watchers is seeing a huge increase in revenue.
This is good news for affiliates because it means that you can now confidently recommend a product that people want – one that is trusted and backed by science.
Weight Watchers current positive outlook means that there’s potential for new products that affiliates can promote. It’s also possible that the affiliate program could see improvements after the reorganization.
What Weight Watchers Affiliates Should Do Right Now
If you’re a Weight Watchers affiliate, there is no need to worry about the status of the affiliate program or it’s future.
Here’s what you should be doing right now:
- Continue to promote your affiliate links with confidence
- Create new content to highlight Weight Watchers new offerings
- Monitor communications from the Impact affiliate network
Conclusion
While Weight Watchers has initiated a Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize their finances, it is business as usual and customers are not affected. Affiliates aren’t affected either.
The news, which might initially be cause for concern, is actually a blessing as the company plans to emerge from the bankruptcy in about 45 days with a more stable and positive outlook.
So if you were considering joining the Weight Watchers affiliate program, do so with confidence. They currently pay $10 per subscription and there are international opportunities depending on which country the affiliate program is available in.
You can find their affiliate program page here with instructions on how to join via Impact.
