Jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers, died this week at 91. Weight Watchers is a for-profit business that adapted the model of group dynamics to solve weight-related problems.

Though Nidetch created the business to solve her own problem, eventually it developed into a forum of mutual support and guidance for like-minded people, seeking weight loss.

In 1961, Nidetch, an overweight housewife, began to gather a group of similarly afflicted friends. Regular casual meetings soon culminated into adoption of weight loss and management control programs. Weight watchers progressively began helping members to 'watch' their weights. In 1968, the company went public and was sold to H. J. Heinz in 1978.

Weight Watchers worked for people when strenuous diets and harmful pills failed to do so. Weight Watchers helped members to adopt a healthier lifestyle and to develop the power of habit. Through their active involvement in the community, the members made positive changes to their daily routines.

Weight Watchers has helped many millions of dieters worldwide since its inception. By making its members conscious about what they eat and how they look, weight watchers helped them to identity effectively their own bodily needs.

This forum undertakes periodic checks on its member's calorie intake and weight fluctuations. The weight is recorded each week, to the closest tenth of a pound, and the members are then accorded the "food points". The victorious 'weight shedders' are awarded with "Five Pounds Lost" ribbon and star.

"We bid farewell to Jean Nidetch, who revamped her personal challenge into a dynamic and inspirational forum, instilling a new hope in those who were weary of experimenting with several ineffective means of weight loss," it was said. Nidetch indeed, did a very noble deed by making it possible for many to 'tighten their belts'!