Virtual Weight Loss Market Worth $1.4 Billion

Convenience Appeals To Do-it-Yourself Dieters

Tampa – WEBWIRE – Thursday, April 18, 2019

New Marketdata Report

"Virtual technology has come to the weight loss market, and is here to stay."

April 17, 2019: Marketdata LLC, a leading independent market research publisher of “off-the-shelf” studies about service industries since 1979, has released a new 121-page study: The Digital Weight Loss Market: Websites, Apps & More . This is a new analysis and forecast of the online dieting market.

“Technology and increased usage of the Internet and smartphones have changed the way Americans lose weight, and how they access weight loss programs. New companies like Noom have entered the market with apps in attempts to “disrupt” long-established players like Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, and Jenny Craig.”, according to Research Director, John LaRosa.
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Major Findings:

Market Value… Marketdata estimates that the digital or virtual weight loss market was valued at $1.4 billion in 2018. The market is forecast to grow 6.6% annually through 2023. The growth in the online dieting market will come from smartphone apps and the ads run on them, as well as subscription programs, international users, and video coaching.

Top Competitors… WeightWatchers.com leads with $567 million in 2018, followed by online sales of non-prescription diet pills ($381 mill.), FitBit.com ($155 mill.), online sales of meal replacements ($123 mill.), and MyFitnessPal ($120 mill.).

Apps & Fitness Trackers… There are signs that revenue growth is slowing or falling for fitness trackers, based on lower device prices and user attrition. Marketdata estimates that the weight loss apps market is worth at least $300 million.

Internet sales… of both meal replacements and OTC diet pills should grow 5-8% per year, along with the growth of the total market. They are very popular among do-it-yourselfers (which represent 80% of all dieters). Sales of these products online represented an estimated $504 million in 2018, or 36% of the total digital market.

Commercial weight loss companies… will continue to beef up their digital program features, apps, and capabilities in order to stay competitive, reach tech-savvy Millennials and gen Z, and to hedge their bets with both off-line and online programs.

Retail Websites Sell Diet Products… In addition to the many websites operated by diet companies, large retailers also sell weight loss products online, directly to consumers, without joining a structured program. These include the websites of: Amazon, CVS, Walgreens, GNC, Walmart, Costco, and Target.

Telemedicine Coming to weight loss… Platforms allow clients to complete their weight loss care virtually anywhere, at any time, without physically having to travel. A nutritionist, dietician or MD may be available for consultations and coaching support through a phone or video chat.

“Online and digital resources for weight loss are plentiful—including websites, apps, podcasts, online courses, webinars, social media, You Tube videos, video coaching, texting, blogs and more.Evolving digital technology is very much a part of reaching today’s dieters and their desire for low cost and 24/7 convenience.”, according to John LaRosa.

About The Report

The Digital Weight Loss Market: Websites, Apps & More, published in April 2019, is an independently researched “off-the-shelf” study. The study is 121 pages in length and contains 21 in-depth competitor profiles. Marketdata Report No. FS68. It costs $995. Available in pdf or print format. A free table of contents is available by email. Contact: Marketdata LLC, 7210 Wareham Drive, Tampa, FL 33647, (813) 971-8080. John LaRosa is available for interviews. A 20 pp. Overview of major findings is available to the public for $99, at: www.marketdataenterprises.com.

About Marketdata

Marketdata is a private market research and consulting firm that has specialized in the tracking and analysis of the weight loss market since 1989—30 years. It has published more than 50 in-depth weight loss market studies and regularly holds teleconferences and webinars about the market. Mr. LaRosa, President, has consulted for many large and small weight loss companies, physicians, start-ups and entrepreneurs and the media. Marketdata also operates a free weight loss news website called DietBusinessWatch.com.