WeightWatchers rises after naming new medical chief

** Shares of telehealth firm WeightWatchers, also known as WW International WW.O, rise 8% to $43.21 premarket

** WeightWatchers names Dr. Kim Boyd as its chief medical officer; the post lay vacant for nearly a year

** Reuters exclusively reported the appointment earlier on Tuesday

** WW also plans for a new program to help women manage the transition into menopause and beyond, part of its growth strategy in emerging from bankruptcy

** WeightWatchers will provide hormone replacement therapies later this year

** Company says its model promoting balanced eating and exercise helps subscribers reduce gastrointestinal side effects from weight loss medicines and lose more weight on Wegovy

** As of last close, stock up 48.14% since it emerged from bankruptcy effective June 27