Weight loss giant Jenny Craig says its independent Aussie and Kiwi operations will continue to operate as its American parent company looks to set to file for bankruptcy. Jenny Craig was founded in Melbourne in 1983 and quickly became a household name, opening up 600 centres around the world and recruiting celebrities including Kirstie Alley as brand ambassadors. Reports say the company’s US arm is US$250 million ($374 million) in debt and has been seeking a buyer in recent months. The business has struggled to compete against popular new weight-loss drugs like Ozempic as well as online weight-loss programs, which has seen the company consider a move to an online model. A leaked staff email yesterday revealed Jenny Craig was shutting down its US operations “due to its inability to secure additional financing”, affecting about 1,000 employees.