Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig is a weight loss guru who founded the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Plan. It is also the name of the corporation associated with this plan, which operates thousands of localized centers worldwide. Born in Louisiana around 1933, she started the weight-loss company with her Australian husband, Sid, in the mid-1980s, and was one of the major players in transforming weight loss into a booming industry. She owns a successful race horse called Candy Ride, and along with her husband has made charitable donations to the University of San Diego

In 1983, Craig started her first commercial weight loss program in Australia. Her personal success with weight loss inspired Jenny and her husband to establish the Jenny Craig Weight Management Program in Australia, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and New Zealand. Neither the Craigs nor other board members of the Jenny Craig Weight Management Program have any formal training in nutrition or exercise. Jenny Craig Weight Management Program headquarters are located in La Jolla, California.

Members are provided with one-on-one counseling sessions with individuals called "consultants." These persons may be professional nutritionists or health professionals, but it is not a requirement. Certification to perform in the position is provided internally. Members join any one of a number of types of plans and then purchase prepackaged food from the company. Initially they are given a completely pre-planned menu to follow; it includes both Jenny Craig food items and store-bought items. Once they have reached the halfway point they are switched to a pre-planned menu wherein 3 or 4 days each week do not include Jenny Craig food.

The ultimate goal of the Jenny Craig plan is to help change lifestyle and eating habits of participants so that by the time they have reached their pre-chosen goal weight, they no longer need to rely on pre packaged food, pre-planned menus or consultations to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As of 2005, actress Kirstie Alley (Cheers, Look Who's Talking, Fat Actress) is the spokeswoman for the Jenny Craig Weight Loss Plan. In early 2000, Monica Lewinsky somewhat controversially served as the plan's spokeswoman.