The Weight Management Market is estimated for 2023 for the forecast period 2023-2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
The weight management market involves various products and services that help maintain or reduce body weight, along with diet and exercise. These include meal replacement products, weight loss supplements and drugs, fitness equipment and health club memberships.
Market Dynamics:
The growth of the global weight management market is majorly driven by the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2016, approximately 1.9 billion adults were overweight and out of these over 650 million were obese. Obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and certain types of cancer. This has resulted in increased health consciousness among consumers as well as focus on curbing obesity rates at country level. For instance, governments of various countries have initiated public health programs promoting healthy weight management. Furthermore, availability of various commercial weight management programs and products is also fueling the market growth.
Increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight driving weight management market growth
Obesity and being overweight has become a major health issue across the globe. According to WHO, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese. The increasing rate of obesity is attributable to unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. As per a study, people who are overweight have higher risk of developing serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even certain forms of cancer. This has increased the demand for effective weight management products and services. The rising health concerns due to obesity has prompted people to opt for weight loss programs, low calorie foods, diet supplements and surgical procedures like bariatric surgery to manage weight. This growing health awareness among consumers regarding obesity and its ill effects is a key factor pushing the growth of weight management market.
Health issues associated with obesity being a major restrain for weight management products
Though obesity has become rampant, some studies show that certain weight management products and programs promising quick results may not be completely safe and can pose serious health risks. For example, prescription weight loss drugs have shown side effects like cardiovascular problems, psychiatric disorders and drug interactions in some cases. Also, very low calorie diet programs without doctor's supervision can cause nutrient deficiencies, dehydration and even gallstone formation. Similarly, bariatric surgery procedures like gastric bypass surgeries also carry surgical complications in certain cases like infection, blood clots, leaks and hernia. These growing health concerns and risks associated with some aggressive weight loss interventions have made consumers and regulatory bodies more cautious regarding the safety of weight management products and programs. This restrains the adoption of certain weigh loss approaches and negatively impacts the overall market growth.
Digital solutions providing opportunities for online weight management programs
The rising penetration of internet and adoption of digital technologies has opened new opportunities for online weight management programs and services. Many fitness apps, websites and portals are offering customized online weight loss programs, meal planning, diet coaching and tracking capabilities using digital platforms and wearable devices. They provide personalized weight and health monitoring using data analytics without requirement of visiting clinics or diet centers regularly. This remote online model has gained popularity especially during the pandemic as people preferred virtual consultations and workouts over physical visits. The virtual weight management solutions are more convenient, affordable and accessible for consumers. This digital shift in the industry is expected to drive future growth of weight management market by attracting more users to online programs.
Growing preference for healthy lifestyle changes the trajectory of weight management market
With growing health awareness, people now prefer sustainable lifestyle modifications over quick-fix approaches for weight management. There is a shift from fad diets to balanced calorie counting, portion controlled meals and increased physical activity. The focus is more on developing healthy habits like consuming lean proteins, fruits vegetables, whole grains and limiting sugar, alcohol intake on long term. Similarly, regular exercises like walking, jogging, strength training, yoga are gaining popularity over highly intense workouts. Moreover, mindful eating techniques are becoming popular for controlling emotional eating. These sustainable lifestyle behaviors addressing root causes of obesity help maintain lost weight effectively. As a result, healthy meal replacement products, wearable activity trackers, wellness communities and mindful eating programs are experiencing higher demand. Going forward, the weight management industry is expected to gear towards lifestyle-based and technology-enabled long term solutions rather than rigid diets.
