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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q8Gh3pBOTbYy8+kveifya1+x2iSE7uJ2Gq6GPgj/o8kGbECNievC6LTjJzgbc5Qx
 s81Axv8Bn04XcrIo+OHhJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-018309.txt : 20030813
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-018309.hdr.sgml : 20030813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030813211650
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-018309
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030813

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARTAL LUXEMBOURG S A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001053905

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16769
		FILM NUMBER:		03843165

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		105 GRAND RUE
		CITY:			LUXEMBOURG L1661
		STATE:			N4
		ZIP:			00000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		105 GRAND RUE
		CITY:			LUXUEMBOURG L1661
		STATE:			N4
		ZIP:			00000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000105319
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PERSONAL SERVICES [7200]
		IRS NUMBER:				116040273
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1230

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		175 CROSSWAYS PARK WEST
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5163901400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		175 CROSSWAYS PARK WEST
		CITY:			WOODBURY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11797
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-08-11</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000105319</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WTW</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001053905</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARTAL LUXEMBOURG S A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>105, GRAND RUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG L-1661</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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>2003-08-11</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>4493258</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>59772567</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Intercompany transfer of shares to another wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Artal International S.A. in exchange for shares of a privately-held company.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">The parent entity of Artal Luxembourg S.A. is Artal International S.A. and Artal Group S.A. is the parent entity of Artal International. The address of Artal International and Artal Group is the same address as that of Artal Luxembourg. Artal International and Artal Group may be deemed to beneficially own the shares held by Artal Luxembourg and the shares transferred to their other wholly-owned subsidiary. Artal International and Artal Group disclaim beneficial ownership of all such shares.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Artal Luxembourg S.A. By: /s/ Francoise De Wael, Director</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-11</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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