Oprah Faces Long Odds in Rescuing Debt-Laden Weight Watchers

  • Clock ticks on loan as company fights long-term customer drain
  • Media magnate Winfrey knows weight loss, `but she yo-yos'
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It will take a lot more than the Oprah effect to revive Weight Watchers.

Shares of Weight Watchers International Inc. more than doubled Monday after Oprah Winfrey pledged to take a 10 percent stake and join its board, but the media magnate is hitching her fortunes to a debt-laden company that’s been shedding customers for years.