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The history of community-based weight loss campaigns

  • Weight Watchers founded

    Weight Watchers founded
    Weight Watchers is founded as one of the first community weight loss centers in Brooklyn, New York. The company was founded by Jean Naditch, a self-described "overweight housewife obsessed with cookies." Since then, the company now operates in over 30 countries around the world.
  • Jazzercise founded

    Jazzercise founded
    Jazzercise, an aerobics craze featuring cardio and resistance training moves, is founded by professional dancer Judi Sheppard Missett. Jazzercise was ranked #1 fitness franchise by Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list. Jazzercise sweeps the nation as a take-home workout video that combines jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, kickboxing, and Latin-inspired dance moves. Jazzercise involves 7,800 instructors teaching more than 32,000 classes weekly in all 50 states and 32 countries.
  • Jane Fonda launches exercise video

    Jane Fonda launches exercise video
    Celebrity Jane Fonda begins the aerobics craze when she launches her first exercise video in May 1982. Her motto is "no pain, no gain" and is a rally cry for the new fitness-crazed community.
  • Jenny Craig

    Jenny Craig
    Jenny Craig is a weight loss, weight management, and nutrition company founded in Melbourne, Australia and began to service the US in 1985. The company has more than 700 weight management centers around the world. The Jenny Craig program has been endorsed by many celebrity clients such as Kirstie Alley, Valerie Bertinelli, Queen Latifah, and Mariah Carey.
  • The Biggest Loser

    The Biggest Loser
    "The Biggest Loser" becomes the first aired reality show to help contestants comopete to lose the most weight.