Weight Watchers® Partners With Philips To Launch ActiveLink⿢: The Only Activity Monitor That Translates Movement To Activity PointsPlus® Values

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Weight Watchers International, Inc. (NYSE: WTW) announced the nationwide availability of ActiveLink™, the first and only activity monitor and web experience that translates your movements to activity PointsPlus® values. ActiveLink is the result of a collaboration with Philips and is available exclusively to Weight Watchers members and Weight Watchers Online Subscribers. 

While activity has always been a key component of the Weight Watchers approach, this engaging innovation puts the focus on fitness like never before – giving members with eTools and Online subscribers a true sense of their current activity levels and then motivating them to make increased activity a healthy habit they develop for a lifetime.

"Most of us tend to underestimate the amount of food we eat, and overestimate how much activity we get.  We rarely exercise enough to burn off that cheeseburger or dessert like we planned," said Stacy Gordon, Senior Vice President, Products, Licensing & Publishing, Weight Watchers North America.  "ActiveLink takes the guess work out of it by more accurately estimating our activity level, and motivates us to set that bar even higher by getting more active." 

Powered by Philips technology, ActiveLink allows users to set personalized goals, seamlessly track their activity routines – from walking the dog to hitting the gym – to help them reach their goal of becoming more active over time. It aligns with Weight Watchers integrated approach to successful weight loss, which combines smarter eating, healthy habits, activity and a supportive environment.

Rave Reviews from Pilot Offering

Weight Watchers members in Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles had the chance to take ActiveLink for a trial run over the summer and it elicited rave reviews. In fact, Chicago resident and Weight Watchers Ambassador Jennifer Hudson is one of its biggest fans. 

"I wore my ActiveLink monitor during a recent performance and couldn't believe how many activity PointsPlus values I earned just by dancing and singing! ActiveLink has made me look at activity in a whole new way," said Hudson.  "I always track what I eat, but now seeing the results of also tracking my activity each day is challenging me to set higher goals. Plus, it's helping me earn activity PointsPlus values, which for me means more chocolate!"

ActiveLink Technology

The ActiveLink monitor is a three-way accelerometer that tracks body motion and provides a measure of acceleration. When combined with one's age, gender, height, and weight, it calculates how many activity PointsPlus® values a person earns while wearing it.  ActiveLink subscribers can then plug the ActiveLink monitor into their computer to upload the information onto their dashboard and receive customized challenges that will gradually increase over time plus activity tips to keep them moving and motivated.

"At Philips, our goal is to improve people's lives through meaningful innovation," said Gopi Koteeswaran, General Manager at Philips. "Working together on ActiveLink, Weight Watchers and Philips are delivering an innovative behavioral change experience that seamlessly integrates activity into the Weight Watchers approach. By translating movement into activity PointsPlus values – a language that Weight Watchers members speak and a lifestyle they live every day – we're helping people to take control of a healthy lifestyle in a fun and engaging way."

The ActiveLink monitor is available exclusively to Weight Watchers members with eTools and Weight Watchers Online subscribers, and can be purchased at participating Weight Watchers locations or via the eCommerce store at www.weightwatchers.com, and requires an additional monthly ActiveLink subscription.  To learn more about ActiveLink, go to www.weightwatchers.com.

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in weight management and Weight Watchers continues to innovate by adding ActiveLink to its technology portfolio, which includes a comprehensive suite of digital and mobile tools to track your food, weight, and activity.  These tools allow Weight Watchers Online subscribers and members who attend meetings and subscribe to eTools to access a suite of tools and helpful information whether they're at home or on the go. In addition, the barcode scanner app instantly reveals the PointsPlus value of foods while shopping supermarket aisles or choosing items from the cupboard or refrigerator. The Kitchen Companion app for iPad gives users access to thousands of recipes and gives step-by-step instructions on how to prepare those dishes then track them easily.

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