Born on this day in New York, Jean Nidetch (1923–2015) once described herself as an “overweight housewife obsessed with eating cookies.” Honest about her struggle, she realized that staying on a diet was hard to do alone.

She made a choice to change her habits. For support, she phoned friends and invited them to meet each week to lose weight together. She created a simple plan, showed up with compassion, and kept everyone accountable. In a year, she lost 70 pounds — and discovered the power of community.

From that living room circle, Weight Watchers International grew — a place to learn, encourage, and celebrate progress. “Compulsive eating is an emotional problem,” she explained, “and we use an emotional approach to its solution.”

The program emphasized practical tools: steady motivation, sensible food choices, movement, and weekly check-ins. Most of all, it emphasized belief — that change begins in the mind and grows with support.

“It’s choice, not chance, that determines your destiny,” she believed. Decide, begin, and keep going. One day, one step, one encouraging voice at a time.