What is a fact is that the rate of obesity is skyrocketing in the United States, rising to the point where the majority of Americans are overweight and have a high body mass index. That spells opportunity for many businesses, and there is no shortage of companies willing to seize the day and service the growing (literally) population in need of weight management.
There is a flip side to the coin, one that doesn’t get as much notice in these obesity-conscious times. Some people are trying to put on weight. These include the elderly, those interested in adding muscle and people suffering from some ravaging disease. They have their own nutritional supplements, bulk-adding drinks and trainers.
Weight Is Big Business
ABC News estimates that the weight management industry is a $20 billion annual business. That figure embraces such areas as diet drugs, diet books and weight-loss surgeries. Add in the ancillary affected businesses, and it’s likely to total at least triple that amount.
More than 100 million people will go on a diet in the United States, making up to five attempts to shed excess pounds during the year. Most will fail, and five years out, even the successful people will not keep the weight off. Celebrity endorsers struggle with keeping weight off, even with millions of dollars in endorsement fees and career pressures to stay trim.