<Page>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2001.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Virginia 11-6040273
---------------------------------------- ------------------
(State of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
175 Crossways Park West, Woodbury, New York 11797-2055 63101
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the registration If this form relates to the
of a class of securities pursuant to registration of a class of
Section 12(b)of the Exchange Act and securities pursuant to
is effective pursuant to General Exchange sections 12(g) of the Exchange
Act and is effective pursuant to General Act and is effective pursuant to
Instruction A.(c), please check the General Instruction A.(d), please
following box. |X| check the following box |_|
Securities Act registration statement file number to which
this form relates: 333-69362
-------------
(If applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which
to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered
------------------- ------------------------------
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
- ------------------------------- ------------------------
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class)
<Page>
ITEM 1: DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
A description of the common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"),
and the preferred stock purchase rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement
(the "Rights" and together with the Common Stock, the "Securities") of Weight
Watchers International, Inc. (the "Registrant") will be contained in a
prospectus, constituting part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (File No. 333-69362) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the
Securities, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (such prospectus as filed pursuant to 424(b), the
"Prospectus"). The description of the Securities contained in the Prospectus
under the heading "Description of Capital Stock" is hereby incorporated by
reference into this Form 8-A.
ITEM 2: EXHIBITS.
3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant's
Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 333-69362).
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant's Form S-1
Registration Statement No. 333-69362).
4.1 Form of Rights Agreement between the Registrant and EquiServe
Trust Company, N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5
of the Registrant's Form S-1 Registration Statement
No. 333-69362).
4.2 Specimen of a Common Stock certificate (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.6 of the Registrant's Form S-1 Registration
Statement No. 333-69362).
2
<Page>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Date: November 9, 2001 By: /s/ Robert W. Hollweg
------------------------
Name: Robert W. Hollweg
Title: Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary