Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are at war. Weight watchers filed suit against Jenny Craig on January 19, 2010. The lawsuit alleges that Jenny Craig defamed Weight Watcher’s weight-loss program. The complaint is concerning the recent adds featuring Valerie Bertinelli where Bertinelli claims that Jenny Craig clients lost over twice as much weight as those following the largest weight-loss program or Weight Watchers. In the ad, Bertinelli states that a clinical trial proved these results. Weight Watchers claims that the study cited in this ad is really two separate studies, one of which took place over ten years ago. Jenny Craig did the other study used more recently, but claims that the comparison of these two separate studies proves that clients lost more weight with their program. Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig programs have never been studied head-to-head, according to Weight Watchers.

Weight Watchers is seeking an injunction to prevent the airing of the current ad, as well as any future commercials that they view as defamatory. They are also seeking damages. A temporary restraining order was issued against Jenny Craig by a federal judge to stop Jenny Craig from airing the ad.

The two weight-loss giants have very different histories, as well as very different programs. Jenny Craig was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1983. They have franchised centers in the U.S. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. They help clients lose weight eating their pre-packaged meals. They also offer individualized, one-on-one, support with a Jenny Craig consultant. Jenny Craig claims to have a medical advisory board to help keep them up on the latest nutritional and weight-loss research. They then incorporate this latest research into their program

Jean Nidetch founded Weight Watchers in the early1960’s. The program is now available in over 30 countries around the world. They offer clients a flexible diet plan combined with instruction and motivational support. Clients are able to lose weight while eating food that they purchase and prepare themselves. They are encouraged to attend meetings for additional instruction and group support. Weight Watchers also offers an online program. Weight Watchers also sells their Weight Watchers magazine, food products, cookbooks, and exercise videos.

Court battles between the two weight-loss companies are nothing new. In 2009, Weight Watchers sued Jenny Craig’s parent company Nestles for copyright infringement for products sold by Breyers and Stouffers claiming that they illegally used Weight Watchers logo without their permission and made note of how the items fit into the Weight Watchers “points” system.

For now, Weight Watchers has won their temporary restraining order, but the battle is not over until the actual court case takes place and is resolved.