Weight Watchers and McDonald's Team Up

(March 4) -- Call it a case of strange bedfellows.

Much to the dismay of nutritionists, meals approved by Weight Watchers will soon be going on sale at McDonald's stores in New Zealand.

According to a joint press release from the two companies, the deal between one of the world's leading weight loss programs and the world's leading fast-food chain means that Weight Watchers will promote items on McDonald's menu such as its fish sandwich and Chicken McNuggets. McDonald's, in turn, will display the Weight Watchers logo on menu boards.

"Our philosophy at Weight Watchers is that all food can be part of a healthy, balanced diet taking into account portion control and frequency," Emma Stirling, a Weight Watchers nutrition adviser, said in the statement. "We know McDonald's is one of New Zealand's largest food and beverage providers and a popular choice for New Zealanders, and we've worked in partnership with them to help guide people when they're eating out."

Nutritional information provided by McDonald's shows that a Filet-O-Fish sandwich has 380 calories and 18 grams of fat. An order of six Chicken Nuggets contains 280 calories and 17 grams of fat. But if a customer were tempted to add a large fries to either of the above items, that would add 500 calories and 25 grams of fat to the meal's total.

Weight Watchers' own Web site features warnings about eating fast food, including a specific admonition for sandwiches like the Filet-O-Fish.

"Avoid fish sandwiches; they sound leaner, but in the hands of fast-food restaurants, they get drenched in unhealthy fat," their Web site states.

"It's all about sales," Jane Martin, senior adviser to the Australian Obesity Policy Coalition, told the Guardian newspaper. "It implies this food is healthy ... when often it is high in fat and salt. Chicken McNuggets are Chicken McNuggets whether it's got Weight Watchers on it or not."

In the statement, Chris Stirk, Weight Watchers' director of business in Australia and New Zealand, called the partnership "unexpected" but said the idea was part of the company's "philosophy that you can enjoy life and all it has to offer while achieving your weight loss goals."

Mark Hawthorne, CEO of McDonald's New Zealand, said that menu changes at the fast-food chain had made the venture with Weight Watchers possible. "For instance, the switch to a healthier canola-blend cooking oil means menu items such as the Filet-O-Fish and Chicken McNuggets contain 60 percent less saturated fat than they did six years ago," Hawthorne said.

As yet, there are no plans to introduce the alliance to the American market, a McDonald's spokesperson said.