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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-16</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>GRAND RUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>105 L1661</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LUXEMBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>N4</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>LUXEMBOURG</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>2006-03-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>506500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53759325</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Artal Holdings Sp. z o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </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 Luxembourg S.A.  Artal Luxembourg S.A. is the parent company of Artal
 Holdings Sp. z o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg.  Artal Holdings Sp. z o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg is the record owner of
 the shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Westend S.A. By:  Pascal Minne, Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
