The forces of gravity between two objects are smaller when the objects are farther apart.
If the distance around the equator is reduced by half, then the radius is also reduced by half.
Since the acceleration due to gravity is proportional to 1/(radius²),
the acceleration changes by a factor of 1/(1/2)² = 1/(1/4) = <em>4 </em>.
The acceleration due to gravity ... and also the weight of everything on Earth ...
becomes <em>4 times what it is now</em>.
