Friday 1 June 2012

Will Jessica Simpson help Weight Watchers


New mom and fashion mogul Jessica Simpson has confirmed via Twitter that she's "so excited to be part of the Weight Watcher family!"

Weight Watchers won't confirm how much the endorsement is worth -- reports say $3 million or $4 million -- but the company does say it was talking to Simpson before she got pregnant. And now, "We're thrilled that Jessica Simpson has chosen to join Weight Watchers to adopt a healthier lifestyle and inspire others to do the same."

Celeb names are big in the diet business. CNN Money reports that Jennifer Hudson's 80-pound weight loss last year brought in bucks for the company, so much so that it raised its marketing spending last quarter to $130 million, up 36% from a year earlier. That move dug into its earnings, which dropped 25%, to around $55 million.

Now the company is hoping Simpson will boost earnings again. "Her talent, resilience and positive outlook already make her a great role model," the company said. It even acknowledged that Simpson has been a yo-yo dieter in the past, often under fire for her weight. "By deciding to trade in yo-yo dieting for a healthier lifestyle, we know she will inspire many women to join her.

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