Weight Watchers has been the leading name in the dieting wellness industry for decades, and we have an obesity epidemic among children. In fact, about 1 in 5 teens is obese, which is a shocking 60% increase since 1990. (source)
So you’d think that WW could help teens lose weight or develop healthy eating habits, right?
Well, yes, and no. While they encourage college students to follow their popular app-based program to lose weight by counting points, WW no longer markets any products specifically to teens.
WW did offer a free app for teens called Kurbo, but it was discontinued amid controversy because the idea of weight loss for teenagers touched on sensitive issues including eating disorders and unhealthy body images.
What is Weight Watchers minimum age? You must be 18 years or older with a valid credit card to sign up for WW
If you are age 18 or older and thinking of following Weight Watchers, we have some great membership offers here. If you are a teen interested in joining WW or losing weight here’s what you should know.
Kurbo: The Weight Watchers App for Teens
The WW Kurbo app was an app designed for children and teens to help them with weight management and healthy living.
Its approach was based on the traffic light system: foods were categorized as “green” (eat a lot), “yellow” (eat moderately), and “red” (eat sparingly). The idea was to encourage healthier eating habits and physical activity among teens.
Sounds like a good idea, right?
Unfortunately, the Kurbo app faced significant criticism and controversy. Many health experts and parents were concerned that it could promote unhealthy body images and possibly lead to eating disorders among children and teenagers. The focus on tracking and categorizing foods was seen by some as potentially fostering an unhealthy relationship with food at a young age.
In response to these concerns and the backlash, Weight Watchers decided to discontinue the Kurbo app. The WeightWatchers company likely realized that the negative attention and potential harm outweighed the benefits of the app. They might have also considered the broader impact on their brand reputation and the need to align with more universally accepted health and wellness practices, especially when it comes to children and teenagers.
Teens & Weight Loss Is a Touchy Subject
There are a lot of teens out there who would benefit from the healthy habits that Weight Watchers promotes. Unfortunately, they can’t escape the reality that a minority of teens, especially young teenagers, might use the program in an unhealthy way that promotes eating disorders.
For this reason, WW requires that teens be at least 18 years old to sign up. If a child slightly younger than that wishes to follow the program, that is between them and their parents, and WW can’t condone it.
Having said that, there are some good resources out there for teens looking to develop healthy eating habits including these tips.
Weight Watchers Does Not Market to Teenagers
The discontinuation of Kurbo underscores the challenges and responsibilities that come with creating health-related products for young people, particularly in the context of sensitive issues like body image and eating habits. It’s a reminder that while technology can be a helpful tool in health and wellness, it must be designed and used thoughtfully, especially for vulnerable populations like children.
When it comes to addressing the current obesity epidemic in teens, parents play a central role, especially with brands like Weight Watchers excusing themselves from the controversial discussion.
Are you age 18 or older? If so, WW has some great membership offers here including promotions like 3 free months, a student discount, $10 a month, or even a free smart scale when you join.
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