Weight Loss Markets: Products, Services, Foods and Beverages

Report Highlights

• The total retail market for weight loss products and services in the U.S. was $84.7 billion in 2002. This market is expected to grow at an AAGR (average annual growth rate) of 13.2% through 2007 to $157.6 billion.
• Low calories foods are the largest segment with sales of $51.9 billion in 2002
• Taste and quality improvements will lead this category to nearly double by 2007.
• Low calories beverages make up the second largest category, led by exceptional growth of noncarbonated beverages, including refreshment, sports, energy and nutraceutical products.
• Supplements are the third largest product/service segment, with retail sales also expected to almost double by 2007.
• Of pharmaceuticals, only two current products are being prescribed in volume and that volume is rapidly decreasing due to their side effects.

INTRODUCTION

The weight loss industry generally has prospered. The major reason for this has been a continuing and growing demand. Overweight and obesity have grown substantially in the U.S., and it appears that the rest of the world is following the U.S. pattern. In general, there is no easy cure for the malady. Science is pursuing solutions to the problem. However, there is a tremendous amount of knowledge needed to understand the causes of overweight. This is likely to take a long time.

The relationships between the weight loss industry and the general population will continue to grow closer. Due to an increasing frequency of dimensions associated with weight problems and issues, the likelihood is continuously increasing that such relationships shall increase. Among others, these dimensions include the serious of overweight diseases, the need for improving products and services to control the diseases, and all their ramifications.

This BCC study delineates the current status of the complete weight loss market and assesses its growth potential through 2007. The report presents a comprehensive analysis of all the industry’s segments and their future directions. While the United States is the principal target, considerable data is developed on countries and regions around the world. All of them are concerned about the effects of the disease and how to defend and attack it.

The industry is based on serving the needs of overweight and obese persons. These conditions have been recognized by experts the world over as a serious disease, growing at epidemic rates around the world. The various segments servicing these needs change constantly in terms of their products, their services and how they do . We have compiled a study of six very distinctive industry segments and their prospects for succeeding in providing efficacious and safe treatment for the varied phases of the disease.

SCOPE OF STUDY

The report covers:

• The weight loss industry’s economic environment
• Six industry segments:
      - supplements
      - meal replacements
      - pharmaceuticals
      - weight loss centers
      - foods
      - beverages
• The dynamics of patient behavior, attitudes and motivations
• Technologies and technological issues
• Applications, market factors and potential
• Projected sales of products and services through 2007.

METHODOLOGY

Through primary and secondary sources, and creative research, BCC determined revenues received by es and other sources from ultimate consumers. Past, current and projected revenue amounts are in present dollars at the time the transactions occurred. This route was taken to measure consumer expenditures across a number of different sub-industries. BCC believes this is a realistic way to evaluate consumer choices for many different kinds of goods and services.

Exceptions to this consumer expenditure model applied to two specific industrial market transaction types. Virtually all fat replacements and approximately half of artificial sweeteners largely are purchased by food and beverage manufacturers for use as ingredients in their ultimate end products. In these instances, BCC developed monetary market size at the wholesale level. These are presented as separate industrial market parameters for those interested in them. Conceptually, sales of the final products containing fat and sugar replacements were measured. There is virtually no duplication of ingredient sales because industrial sales were not added to consumer revenue totals.

INFORMATION SOURCES

BCC interviewed approximately 100 individuals to obtain primary data for this study. Respondents were guaranteed nondisclosure treatment of interview data to protect their confidentiality. These interviews were semistructured to gather any pertinent information. Respondents were a diverse group representing a variety of levels in industry segments, trade and professional organizations, trade and professional publishers, university and science organizations and various levels of government. A considerable amount of secondary data was obtained, largely via the Internet, from government, trade and professional organizations, universities and others.

RELATED WORK CREDENTIALS

Since 1971, Communications Co., Inc. (BCC) has critically studied the major market, economic and technological developments that have characterized industry to produce reports and newsletters and organize conferences. In the process, BCC has focused on advanced materials, high-technology systems and components, and novel processing methods because the development and marketing of these phenomena assert a profound influence on manufacturers and users on a worldwide scale.

The scope of BCC's research is broad and covers a full spectrum of industries:

• foods and beverages
• packaging
• healthcare
• information processing
• chemicals
• banking
• energy
• biotechnology
• electronics
• telecommunications
• factory automation
• waste, water and air