<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000105319 <NAME> Weight Watchers <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-24-1999 APR-25-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-26-1998 APR-27-1997 <PERIOD-END> APR-24-1999 APR-25-1998 <CASH> 19,515 11,829 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 12,397 12,523 <ALLOWANCES> 994 876 <INVENTORY> 7,580 7,652 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 186,754 182,732 <PP&E> 55,153 60,216 <DEPRECIATION> 46,428 50,210 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 371,434 370,799 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 95,554 116,940 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 248,948 229,089 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 371,434 370,799 <SALES> 404,842 334,313 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 404,842 334,313 <CGS> 178,925 159,961 <TOTAL-COSTS> 320,927 290,323 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,248 4,281 <LOSS-PROVISION> 34 240 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,859 8,576 <INCOME-PRETAX> 85,835 44,585 <INCOME-TAX> 36,360 19,969 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 47,982 23,771 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 47,982 23,771 <EPS-BASIC> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0