Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

"Act thin, stay thin": Commercialization, behavior modification, and group weight control.

Jessica Parr1

  • 1School of Humanities & Languages, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
|September 3, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Weight Watchers pioneered behavior modification in 1968, integrating psychological techniques into commercial weight control. This multidimensional approach significantly influenced dieting and popular culture

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Low-Dose Rivaroxaban Plus Aspirin in Patients With PAD Undergoing Lower Extremity Revascularization With and Without History of Prior Limb Revascularization: Insight From the VOYAGER-PAD Trial.

Circulation. Cardiovascular interventions·2026
Same author

Preserving Trial Endpoint Specificity and Cause of Death Attribution in Cardiovascular Trials: Insights From MARINER.

JACC. Advances·2025
Same author

The mechanism of H-bond rupture: the vibrational pre-dissociation of C2H2-HCl and C2H2-DCl.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2007
Same author

Imaging study of vibrational predissociation of the HCl-acetylene dimer: pair-correlated distributions.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2006

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Sociology of Dieting

Background:

  • Weight management programs in postwar America were numerous.
  • Weight Watchers International was an established commercial entity.
  • Behavioral psychology offered a novel approach to weight control.

Observation:

  • Weight Watchers integrated behavior modification into its program in 1968.
  • This integration provided a competitive edge over other weight loss groups.
  • The program combined group therapy, diet, behavior techniques, and exercise.

Findings:

  • The commercialization of group weight control fostered a multidimensional approach.
  • This approach significantly impacted the development and dissemination of weight management strategies.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Weight Watchers' model influenced popular culture and perceptions of healthy living.

    • Implications:

    • The study highlights the historical impact of commercialization on public health strategies.
    • It underscores the evolution of dieting from simple calorie restriction to holistic behavior change.
    • This research provides insights into the cultural shaping of weight management and wellness.