North American Weight Loss and Obesity Market Expected to Soar to $139.5 Billion by 2017

July 9, 2013

Obesity Epidemic Supports a Growing Market

As the obesity epidemic continues to soar all across North America, market experts are forecasting an incredible jump in the weight loss and obesity management industry. According to the North America Weight Loss/Obesity Management Market Report, in 2012 the market was worth 104 billion but researchers expect that by 2017, the industry will be worth upwards of 139.5 billion. Currently, the United States is the largest market for the weight loss and obesity management industry, followed by Canada.

The North American weight loss management market includes fitness equipment, weight loss/diet foods, beverages, and supplements, and medical device products used in weight loss surgery. Although weight loss diet products are the largest segment in the market, the report emphasizes the opportunities of medical device manufacturers going forward with a special focus on devices that will give patients access to less invasive surgeries. Non-invasive weight loss procedures that are gaining in popularity include: transoral obesity revision surgery, cryolipolysis, cold laser shaping, and Stomaphyx.

The report indicates that the weight loss surgical equipment market looks promising for very high growth potential and is expected to grow at double-digits in the next five years.  Researchers attribute the growth to technological advancements that allow for less pain and a faster recovery, and the increasing number of bariatric surgeries, as well as the acceptance of weight loss surgery procedures by the general population.

Leading players in the North American weight management market are: Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., Weight Watchers International, Inc., NutriSystem, Inc., Herbalife International, Inc. The Coca Cola Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Brunswick Corporation Precor, Inc., Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc., Cynosure, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Equinox, Inc., Gold’s Gym International, Inc., and eDiets.com.

Did You Know?

According to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), 220,000 weight loss surgeries were performed in the U.S. in 2012.