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$46 billion spent on weight loss

January 17, 2008 in Weight Loss Diets by Allen | No comments

I just saw a press release from March, 2005 that announced the release of a 307-page study on the weight-loss and diet-control market.

Here’s the major segments of the US diet industry included in the study:
* Diet soft drinks
* Commercial weight-loss programs
* Medical programs/diet drugs
* Retail non-prescription meal replacements and diet pills
* Health clubs
* Artificial sweeteners
* Weight-loss surgeries
* Low-cal entries

When the market researchers added it all up the total expenditures came to $46 billion in 2004 (up 6.1% from 2003).

The most troubling component of this total was bariatric (weight-loss) surgeries. There were 140,000 cases in 2004 which generated revenues of $3.5 billion. This case load has risen dramatically in the last few years.

So how much of this $46 billion is really helping people safely lose weight? Well, in my opinion, not much. Sure, there are some nutritionists and dietitians who are providing some assistance. But, beyond that, Americans are wasting their money.

Allen Oelschlaeger
Author of Finally, the Straight Scoop About Weight, Nutrition and Fitness

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