<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000105319</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283968</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WESTEND SA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>105, GRAND-RUE, L-1661</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LUXEMBOURG N4 00000</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, No par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4493258</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Artal Participations &amp; Management S.A.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, No par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5506742</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54265825</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Artal Holdings Sp. z. o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sold pursuant to a registered offering.  The reported price is before underwriting discounts, fees and expenses.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Westend S.A. is the parent company of Artal Group S.A. Artal Group S.A. is the parent company of Artal International S.A.,
 which, in turn, is the parent company of Artal Services N.V. Artal Services N.V. is the parent company of Artal
 Participations &amp; Management S.A.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Westend S.A., is the parent company of Artal Group S.A. Artal Group S.A. is the parent company of Artal International S.A.,
 which, in turn, is the parent company of Artal Luxembourg S.A. Artal Luxembourg S.A. is the parent company of Artal Holdings
 Sp. z o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg. These shares were previously reported as indirectly held by Artal Luxembourg S.A.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Westend S.A. By: Pascal Minne, Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
