The U.S. weight loss market made $60.9 billion in sales in 2010. Considering back in 2005 the weight loss industry was a mere $46 billion, I’d say that’s a huge jump. We all know obesity is a serious health concern and a growing problem in America, but what exactly aren’t Americans being told when it comes to weight loss?
#1 BMI was redefined
BMI, or Body Mass Index, is based on a calculation using height and weight. If you go by the old BMI guidelines being overweight was defined as having a BMI of 27.8 for men and 27.3 for women. In 1998, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) redefined BMI. Under the new BMI guidelines overweight is classified as having a BMI between 25 and 29.9 and if you have a BMI of 30 or more you are classified as obese. When the new government standard took effect 35 million more Americans qualified as overweight even though their weight was once considered “normal”.
So, what were the reasons to redefine BMI and make millions of Americans outraged? The Newark Star-Ledger reported that the people behind the decision of BMI redefinition had some type of financial ties to the weight loss industry, meaning they either worked as consultants to pharmaceutical companies, received research money or were advisors to popular weight loss chains. For example, the obesity panel chairman of the National Institute of Health himself was known to be connected to various pharmaceutical and weight loss companies including Weight Watchers. Was financial gain in the weight loss industry the hope of the BMI redefinition? Don’t know. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has explained that the guidelines were redefined to be “more globally streamlined to address the issue of obesity at the world wide level”. Interesting indeed.
#2 You can be overweight AND healthy
Many people used to think (and some still may) that there is no way an individual could be both overweight and healthy, so you must diet, right? Being healthy is not just about diet. It is also about fitness levels as well as your overall numbers such as blood pressure and cholesterol level. Since increased physical activity has a positive effect on overall fitness level, blood pressure, and cholesterol, evidence shows that even if you are 5 or 50 pounds overweight, if you exercise your health could be better than a thinner, more “normal” weight person that leads a sedentary lifestyle. So, in this case diet is not the only factor.
#3 All diabetics are not obese
It was once thought that the increase in being diagnosed with diabetes had a direct correlation to being overweight or obese. However, in 1997, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) changed the criteria for diagnosing diabetes. Prior to the change diabetes was defined as having a fasting blood glucose of 140 mg/dL. The new standard lowered it to 126 mg/dL. One million Americans, who once had a “normal” fasting blood glucose, were later told they had diabetes. Many people tend to change their diets once diagnosed with diabetes so with many newly diagnosed diabetics an increase was seen in turning to weight loss solutions for help.
Here are 7 more interesting facts about the weight loss industry:
- Sales of all commercial weight loss chains grew about 2% in 2010 – Weight Watchers was #1.
- Diet drugs – the FDA have denied approval for various diet drugs as drug manufacturers realize it is hard to make an effective weight loss drug without significant side effects.
- By 2014, the combined market of diet pills and meal replacements should be worth $3.04 billion.
- Approximately 60% of community hospitals offer some form of weight loss program – one of them is The Centers for Medical Weight Loss which has grown from 60 centers in 2007 to more than 450.
- The typical American dieter now makes 4 weight loss attempts per year – the highest number in 15 years.
- Online dieting was estimated to be an $842 million market in 2009 – WeightWatchers.com was #1 with over 1 million paid subscribers. In 2010, their revenue was $238 million.
- Diet food home delivery services make up about a $924 million sub-segment of the weight loss market – NutriSystem takes home 55% of those sales.
Sources
U.S. Weight Loss Market Worth $60.9 Billion
The Center for Consumer Freedom: An Epidemic of Obesity Myths
