LONDON—The weight management ingredient market earned revenues of $7.5 billion in 2008 and new analysis from Frost & Sullivan estimates this to reach $13.9 billion by 2015, according to its new report, “Opportunities in Global Weight Management Ingredients.” The applications Frost & Sullivan covered in this research service are satiety ingredients/appetite suppressants, fat burners (thermogenic ingredients) and other weight-management ingredients.
The report also found obesity rates, which have been steadily rising in Europe and the United States, are now increasing in Asian nations as well. "Greater economic activity and rising disposable income levels of working professionals in Asian nations such as China and India are resulting in a consumer shift away from traditionally produced food toward a convenience-based western diet that is further exacerbated by more sedentary lifestyles," according to Frost & Sullivan. "The resultant rise in obesity rates is spurring consumer interest in active health management, fuelling market growth."
They noted the growing global popularity of weight management ingredients is due in part to an extensive range of food, beverage and supplement products. However, issues regarding the placement of herbal medicines on the market, together with the length of time it takes for novel foods to be approved for human consumption in Europe, are the major problems for food manufacturers, restricting manufacturer innovation and causing hesitancy in the market. Additionally, raising awareness among consumers represents a primary challenge for food and beverage manufacturers globally, though this can be facilitated with successful product legislation, the said.
"Creating products that are both functional and palatable is another challenge, with several of the accepted weight-management ingredients having an undesirable taste profile," explained the report. "Taste is a key area of concern for food and beverage manufacturers in relation to the finished product's efficacy and desirability, making functionality and taste equally important."
To succeed in the global weight management ingredients market, Frost & Sullivan said manufacturers should find innovative ways to prolong ingredient lifespan, work toward securing favorable legislation, and introduce new ingredients into this market. "Manufacturers should focus on building brand equity, by utilising co-branding," concluded the report. "Furthermore, they should provide technical documentation and a clear illustration of the benefits and safety associated with each individual weight management ingredient, in order to facilitate effective marketing messages from food and drink manufacturers."
"Opportunities in Global Weight Management Ingredients" is part of the Food & Beverage Ingredients Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: Heart health ingredients, bone & joint health ingredients and digestive health ingredients. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
