Weight loss programs and diet plans are absolutely nothing brand-new, however there’s no concern that social networks and web culture have actually pressed the world of weight reduction to brand-new locations. Nowadays, the name of the video game is not weight-loss, however health. Health is an international market worth more than $4 trillion , and business are desperate to stake their claim. While we’ve seen great deals of brand-new business emerging in the wellness area, older business have actually likewise been required to adjust with the times. Get in the business previously called Weight Watchers, who produced some significant debate today when they revealed Kurbo, a brand-new app focused on teenagers and kids.

Weight Watchers, which rebranded as WW International (Wellness Wins) in 2015 in a goal to focus more on general “health” than strictly weight-loss, has actually been a significant gamer in the weight reduction area for more than 50 years. They obtained Kurbo in 2018, and after that invested a year making modifications prior to relaunching the app. Amongst the modifications consist of adding what TIME called a “ Snapchat-inspired user interface ,” which actually looks like the visual we must be opting for with a weight reduction app. Will there be pet ears?

But according to Gary Foster, the chief clinical officer at WW International, it’s not a weight-loss app. He explains Kurbo as “an app that teaches in a game-ified, enjoyable, appealing method what are the essentials of a healthy consuming pattern.” Okay, so there’s absolutely nothing incorrect with motivating kids to find out how to consume healthy, however the claim that it’s not a weight reduction app do not truly hold up when you compare Gary Foster’s words with those that come straight from WW. In a main declaration, they state that Kurbo is a “scientifically-proven habits modification program created to assist teenagers and kids age 8-17 reach a much healthier weight.”

Either I require to return to English class, or “reach a much healthier weight” seems like an incredibly diplomatic method of stating “reduce weight.” Look, I’ve required to slim down considering that I was around 10 years old, so I understand what it seems like when I hear it. The app utilizes a so-called “ traffic control system ,” in which foods are appointed red, yellow, and thumbs-ups. Undoubtedly, things like sweet fall in the traffic signal classification, while fruits and veggies are securely in the green zone. I have not seen the particular standards for this system, and it appears rational enough, however it’s quite funny to pretend that it wasn’t developed with weight-loss in mind.

It looks like Gary Foster may have understood this, due to the fact that he included that he sees that “there might be some misperception that in some way we’ re stating, All kids ought to slim down, you’ re not OKAY as you are,’ “and after that he states that the objective is to offer a “affordable, practical” technique for “kids who are attempting to accomplish a much healthier weight.” Soooooo it’s a weight-loss program.

And naturally, individuals are f * cking pissed about this, mentioning that diet plans do not work, kids are having body image concerns as young as 3 years of ages ( yes ), which general, kids need to not feel forced into looking a specific method.

KURBO.

I believed that I disliked Weight Watchers. I have actually not disliked them as much as I do today.

Making weight reduction fashionable for kids is making the advancement of consuming conditions simpler and trendier. I am not here for this.

— Anna Sweeney MS, CEDRD-S (@DietitianAnna) August 13, 2019

Hey @weightwatchers . Yes, you.