NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Weight
Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW) announced year two of its
collaboration with the American Cancer Society through Project
L.I.F.T. – Live Inspired. Fight Together. Research has shown breast
cancer survivors who were treated with chemotherapy and have a
family risk of breast cancer are twice as likely to gain more than
11 pounds within five years of treatment compared with women who
are cancer-free.[i] Project L.I.F.T. aims to
inspire and guide cancer survivors struggling with this unexpected
weight gain post-treatment through free resources, community events
and tailored workshops. This year, Project L.I.F.T. will expand
through new program elements that not only help survivors as they
work to reclaim their well-being, but also engage their caregivers
and extended communities.
"When Project L.I.F.T. launched last August, Weight Watchers
members, staff, friends and family rallied together to help
survivors and provide support to those impacted by breast cancer,"
said Stacey Mowbray, President of
Americas at Weight Watchers International, Inc. "We raised more
than $360,000, engaged thousands of
people along the way, and witnessed the impact of these efforts and
contributions on people's lives. We look forward to seeing Project
L.I.F.T. and our relationship with the American Cancer Society have
an even greater impact this year."
In 2017, Weight Watchers is working with the American Cancer
Society to expand Project L.I.F.T. through the following
initiatives:
- upL.I.F.T. Series at American Cancer Society Hope
Lodge® Communities: In September,
Weight Watchers and the American Cancer Society will host
upL.I.F.T., a specially designed workshop series intended to bring
survivors, those undergoing treatment, and their caregivers a sense
of peace and relaxation through gentle, guided movements and
meditation. This series will take place in New York City and Atlanta at American Cancer Society Hope Lodge
communities – home-like lodging offered at no cost to patients and
caregivers who must travel away from home for treatment.
- Real Men Wear Pink: The American Cancer Society launched
the Real Men Wear Pink campaign in 2016 to unite men in the fight
against breast cancer. In support of this campaign and Project
L.I.F.T., Weight Watchers has enlisted a group of Real Men Wear
Pink ambassadors across the nation to help raise funds to help save
lives from breast cancer. Weight Watchers also developed Real Men
L.I.F.T. limited-edition performance T-shirts, which will be
available in the Weight Watchers online shop this September through
November. All profits from the sale of these T-shirts will go to
the American Cancer Society.
Additionally, the September/October issue of Weight
Watchers magazine, on stands today, features three Weight
Watchers members who battled and won their fight with breast cancer
in the article, "Sharing the Health." The story highlights the
impact of community support and the importance of prioritizing
wellness – how the actions you take tied to your health and
well-being can influence, and be influenced, by those closest to
you.
"I joined Weight Watchers in 2014 to lose the baby weight, I
never thought that my Weight Watchers family would also be such a
strong support system for me during my battle with breast cancer
two years later," said Nicole
Ferguson, Weight Watchers member and breast cancer survivor
featured in the September/October Weight Watchers magazine
issue. "Breast cancer took a year of my life. I'm taking it back
now. I'm ready to take on the world."
Along with the new program elements, Project L.I.F.T. will offer
a variety of ways to show support, learn more and get involved,
such as:
- Limited Edition Products: This September, Weight
Watchers will reveal an expanded line of Project L.I.F.T. limited
edition products, available via the Weight Watchers online shop and
in Weight Watchers meeting rooms, with all profits from the sale of
the products going to the American Cancer Society. These products
include:
-
- 2017 Project L.I.F.T. Performance T-Shirts: Walk with
Weight Watchers with the 2017 Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer® "Live Inspired. Fight Together." T-shirt
and the "Real Men L.I.F.T." T-shirt. Both T-shirts are available
online only.
- "Live Inspired. Fight Together." Rose Gold Tea
Tumbler and Tea Collection, developed in partnership with
Maria Uspenski, The Tea
Spot® founder, cancer survivor and author of "Cancer
Hates Tea."
- "Live Inspired. Fight Together." Everyday Bag,
designed with compartments to fit your shoes and everything in
between, such as gym clothes, books and snacks.
- "Live Inspired. Fight Together." Tote, a multipurpose
bag that displays your support for Project
L.I.F.T.
- Free Online Content: The Project L.I.F.T. content hub,
created in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, is an
online destination featuring practical tools and advice from
researchers, nutritionists, physicians and specialists to help
anyone impacted by cancer on their journey to weight loss and
overall health.
- Nationwide Presence at American Cancer Society Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer Events: Weight Watchers members,
staff, family and friends can join the Weight Watchers teams at
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events across the country by
visiting MakingStridesWalk.org/WeightWatchers. As a two-year
American Cancer Society Partners Against Cancer member, Weight
Watchers will also sponsor photo tents at Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer walks in New York
City, Los Angeles,
Washington, D.C., Chicago and Atlanta.
"We are so inspired by this campaign and the energy and
enthusiasm of the Weight Watchers community," said Kris Kim, Executive Vice President, American
Cancer Society, Northeast Region. "As we embark on our second year
working with Weight Watchers through Project L.I.F.T., we will
shine a new light of hope for survivors and those impacted by the
disease."
Weight Watchers launched Project L.I.F.T. in August 2016 to help survivors understand why they
might have gained weight and how losing a modest amount of weight
can provide many health
benefits.[ii] [iii] During
its inaugural year, Project L.I.F.T. mobilized the Weight Watchers
community to unite and supported survivors through free content,
workshops and a variety of fundraising efforts. Resulting from
these efforts, Weight Watchers raised more than $360,000 between August and October 2016, ranking six out of 45 in monies
raised, among American Cancer Society Partners Against Cancer
members.
For more information on Project L.I.F.T. and how to get
involved, please visit
www.weightwatchers.com/us/projectlift
About Weight Watchers International, Inc.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. is one of the most recognized
and trusted brand names among weight-conscious consumers. Weight
Watchers provides commercial weight management services through a
global network of Company-owned and franchise operations and offers
innovative, digital weight management products through its
websites, mobile sites and apps. These services and products are
built on the Company's weight management program, which helps
millions of people around the world lose weight through sensible
and sustainable food plans, activity, behavior modification and
group support. Weight Watchers has an unparalleled network of
service providers to assist members on their journey and also
offers a wide range of products, publications and programs for
those interested in weight loss and healthier living.
[i] Gross, A., May, B., Axilbund, J.,
Armstrong, D., Roden, R., &
Visvanathan, K. (2015). Weight Change in Breast Cancer Survivors
Compared to Cancer-Free Women: A Prospective Study in Women at
Familial Risk of Breast Cancer. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers
& Prevention, 24(8), 1262-1269.
doi:10.1158/1055-9965.epi-15-0212.
[ii] Blackburn G. Effect of degree of weight
loss on health benefits. Obesity 1995;3(2):211S.
[iii] Vidal J. Updated review on the benefits
of weight loss. Int J Obes 2002;26(S4):S25-S28. doi:
10.1038/sj.ijo.080221510.1038/sj.ijo.0802215.
CONTACT:
Brooke
Theiss
212-817-4266
Brooke.Theiss@weightwatchers.com
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SOURCE Weight Watchers International, Inc.