<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000105319 <NAME> WEIGHT WATCHERS <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-24-2000 APR-29-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-26-1999 APR-25-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-23-1999 OCT-24-1998 <CASH> 33,434 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 9,432 0 <ALLOWANCES> 319 0 <INVENTORY> 9,065 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 58,827 0 <PP&E> 37,032 0 <DEPRECIATION> 31,311 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 329,632 0 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 68,346 0 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> (251,213) 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 329,632 0 <SALES> 186,598 180,463 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 186,698 180,463 <CGS> 86,656 84,675 <TOTAL-COSTS> 139,542 143,470 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,261 2,527 <LOSS-PROVISION> (688) (127) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,474 4,395 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,551 37,484 <INCOME-TAX> 12,625 15,874 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,334 20,935 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,334 20,935 <EPS-BASIC> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0