WeightWatchers Acquiring Subscription Telehealth Platform Weekend Health

WeightWatchers is acquiring subscription telehealth platform Weekend Health, which does business as Sequence.

The planned acquisition will add Sequence’s platform, which offers access to healthcare providers who specialize in chronic weight management, to WeightWatchers’ other weight loss and weight management tools, WeightWatchers said in a Monday (March 6) press release.

“Clinical interventions require better education, access, care management, community and the integration of a complementary lifestyle program for best results,” WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani said in the release. “It is our responsibility, as the trusted leader in weight management, to support those interested in exploring if medications are right for them.”

PYMNTS research has found that telehealth is now a key component of medical care because, even after the lifting of COVID-era restrictions, consumers are reluctant to quit the convenience of digital health and return to strictly in-person visits.

As recently as July, 46% of U.S. patients engaged with healthcare using a mix of online and in-person visits, according to “The ConnectedEconomy: Omnichannel Healthcare Takes Center Stage.”

Beyond video doctors’ visits, telehealth’s popularity has extended to influence the wellness market. In September 2022, it was reported that 57% of consumers — or about 148 million consumers of all ages — had engaged in some preventative care online during the previous month, according to “Connected Wellness: What’s Next in the Connected Economy,” a PYMNTS and CareCredit collaboration.

With such strong consumer appeal, some trailblazers are seeking to further revolutionize possibilities for digital platforms to provide care.

In the case of Sequence, the company was launched in late 2021 and has grown to serve 24,000 members and become a $25 million annual revenue run-rate business by February 2023, according to the press release.

Its service includes helping members navigate the insurance approval process and access quality care from clinicians, the release said.

Sequence CEO and Co-Founder Rémi Cossart said in the release that clinical solutions are more sustainable when paired with behavior change like that promoted by WeightWatchers.

“I am thrilled to be joining the WeightWatchers team following the acquisition to scale Sequence’s clinical weight management offering, in combination with WeightWatchers’ best-in-class behavior change program, to deliver a one-of-a-kind scientifically sound solution to comprehensive care.”