ROCKVILLE, Md.—Market research publisher Packaged Facts release its “Weight Management Trends in the U.S.” report that examines consumers’ weight management strategies, goals and attitudes toward foods and beverages; use of over-the-counter diet aids, weight management programs, and exercise; retail channel and foodservice preferences; and media usage and responsiveness, both traditional and social.
The report also examines the competitive strategies of key players, new product and ingredient trends, and marketing and advertising positioning, all within the context of the medical, social, economic, and psychographic drivers of consumer behavior.
Packaged Facts estimates the global weight loss and diet management market—including diet food and drinks, weight-loss programs and services, weight-loss drugs and natural therapies, and surgical interventions—reached $26 billion in 2009. Diet food and drinks—consisting of weight-loss bars and snacks, drinks, frozen meals and diet desserts—was the largest category, with $18 billion, or 73 percent, of total worldwide sales.
Developing foods and beverages that provide satiety is projected to be one of the hottest trends in weight management. Though “minus” formulations of foods and beverages—i.e., low-, no-, or reduced-calorie/fat/carbohydrates/sugar formulations—continue to dominate weight management products, there currently is a subtle shift toward tinkering with formulations to add functional ingredients that can help people lose and maintain weight. Many of these same functional ingredients are being used in dietary supplements and over-the-counter weight management drugs.
