This report looks at the following areas:
- Retail value of weight management products, key growth drivers and obstacles, and future trends
- Performance of prominent enterprises
- Noteworthy product innovation trends and marketing highlights
- Consumers’ motivation and focus on weight management
- The popularity of various weight management products and the factors influencing purchasing decisions
- Preference in selecting weight management ingredients
The widespread focus on improving holistic wellbeing has not only fueled the rapid growth of the functional food industry for weight management but also reshaped how consumers perceive the purpose and value of weight management. With the anticipated rise in adult and child obesity, weight management products must go beyond the traditional adult-centric approach and adopt a ‘family’ concept to benefit everyone.
Catherine Liu, Principal Analyst, China Insights
Market Definitions
The market size discussed in this Report covers over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, health supplements, and food and drinks related to weight management.
Segments of the market are as follows:
- OTC weight-loss drug Orlistat
- Weight-loss health supplements and slimming tea with ‘Health Supplement Food’ certification
- Meal replacement foods for weight management purposes
- Functional foods with weight management benefits
This Report also explores general foods and beverages (such as Chinese yangsheng foods and drinks) and weight management-related prescription drugs (such as semaglutide), though they are not included in the market size.
Collapse All
-
Executive summary
- Key issues covered in this Report
- Definition
- What you need to know
- The market
- The demand for comprehensive health improvements, along with the rising number of obese individuals, will drive the market’s rapid growth
- Trends, challenges and opportunities across various segments
- Key Market Factors
- Products and marketing
- Key trends in product innovation
- Examples of products that reflect these trends
- Highlights in marketing activities: clever combinations of fun and practicality, demonstrating the appeal of brands in the weight management sector
- The consumer
- Mass consumers show significant interest in specialised weight management, with a notable proportion being men
- Graph 1: weight management directions, 2024
- Short video platforms are leading the trend, emerging as the preferred channel for accessing dietary information on weight management
- Graph 2: information channels, 2024
- People are becoming increasingly aware of the strong link between maintaining a healthy weight and feeling vibrant, energised and spirited
- Graph 3: comparison of the perceived benefits of weight management, 2021 vs 2024
- The goal of weight management is not just to improve physical health, but also to encourage self-love
- Exercise and dietary adjustments are the golden rules of weight management, while functional foods generate greater enthusiasm for trying
- Natural ingredients are favoured over artificially engineered ones, emerging as the most sought-after product attribute
- Graph 4: purchase considerations regarding weight management food/drinks/supplements, 2024
- Plant proteins are gaining significant attention, while animal proteins, probiotics, dietary fibre and vitamins drive consumption demand in specific categories
- Issues and insights
- What we think
-
The market
- Market size and forecast
- The growing demand for comprehensive health improvements, coupled with online marketing, is driving the rapid growth of the market
- Market factors
- The number of overweight/obese adults and children is expected to keep rising, making weight management solutions for the whole family more important than ever
- Overweight/obesity are more prevalent among men than women, highlighting opportunities in the male weight management market
- Semaglutide has received regulatory approval in China for the treatment of obesity
- The National Health Commission highlights the risks of GLP-1 weight loss medications in the ‘Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity’ and stresses the importance of lifestyle interventions.
- Market segmentation
- Improved safety and efficacy could drive the OTC weight loss drugs market back to growth
- Due to the development of the functional food market, the weight loss health supplement market has entered a period of growth stagnation
- Under the trend of holistic health improvement, weight management functional foods are growing rapidly
- The growth of the weight management meal replacements market is slowing; industry regulations and improved product quality could drive future growth
-
Companies and brands
- Overview of the performance of leading companies
- Maintain the brand’s market influence through quality improvements and a balanced product strategy
- Zein Biotechnology and Besunyen are striving to provide high-quality products
-
Products and marketing
- Overview of ecommerce sales performance
- Weight management supplements show a higher sales growth rate than the overall market
- Products featuring natural plant extracts are growing rapidly, and there is still room for development in holistic health products
- Sales of food and drink products with weight management as a selling point are growing rapidly, with significant potential for further growth
- Key selling points of standout brands’ flagship products: ready-to-eat and versatile ways to enjoy
- New product trends
- Innovation in everyday products is more active than in specialised ones
- Graph 5: share of new food, drinks and vitamin/dietary supplements with weight management-related features**, 2019-24 (calculated per rolling year)
- Graph 6: share of new ‘weight management nutrition’ products in food, drinks, and vitamin/dietary supplements, 2019-24 (calculated per rolling year)
- Innovation is extending to health benefits beyond weight, with new products focusing on immunity and cardiovascular health seeing the fastest growth
- Graph 7: top-ranked functional claims in new food, drinks, and vitamin/dietary supplements with weight management-related features*, 2021-24
- Newly launched weight management nutrition products feature a range of health benefits
- The use of herbal ingredients, probiotics and postbiotics in weight management products has increased
- Product examples of weight management products that highlight natural herbal ingredients as a key selling point
- Diverse natural ingredients are emerging as high-growth flavours in nutritional and meal replacement drinks
- Innovation outlook: various new weight management supplement products containing probiotics, including AKK bacterium, a significant discovery in the field of probiotics, are hitting the market
- Highlights in marketing activities
- ‘What you’re drinking can also be used as a dumbbell’
- KEEP It Real, Ele.me It In
-
The consumer
- Weight management directions
- Weight maintenance and loss remain the primary needs, but there is more potential in muscle gain, body shaping and fat loss to attract new consumers
- Graph 8: weight management directions, 2024
- Women show a greater willingness to attempt to gain muscle
- Graph 9: [no title]
- Graph 10: [no title]
- Men are highly interested in attempting to lose fat
- Graph 11: have never tried, but are interested in trying to lose fat, by gender, 2024
- Motivations of weight management
- The main motivation behind weight management is improving physical fitness…
- Graph 12: motivations of weight management, 2024
- …the implicit motivation is to help people learn to care for themselves
- The implicit motivation for men is a sense of vitality, while for women, it is self-love
- Young adults are more inclined to learn self-care through the weight management process…
- Graph 13: motivations of weight management, by age, 2024
- … also hoping to expand the social circle in the process of managing weight
- Graph 14: motivations of weight management, by age, 2024
- Perceived benefits of weight management
- Consumers generally believe that weight management is an important part of safeguarding health
- Graph 15: perceived benefits of weight management, 2024
- Awareness of the close link between maintaining a healthy weight and the enhancement of vitality, energy and spirit is increasing
- Graph 16: comparison of perceived benefits of weight management, 2021 vs 2024*
- Product example: added anemia-preventing nutrients to reduce the risks of ‘Qi and blood deficiency’ and ‘lack of vitality’ associated with weight management
- The benefit positioning of ‘holistic beauty’ is widely welcomed by those committed to weight management…
- Graph 17: benefits of weight management, by respondents who have undertaken and plan to continue various weight management approaches, 2024
- …and has also gained significant attention from young adults
- Graph 18: perceived benefits of weight management, by age, 2024
- Product example: leveraging age management as a foundation, combining weight management with beauty benefit needs
- Information Channels
- Short video platforms lead by a wide margin, emerging as the most popular channel for consumers to learn about diet adjustments for weight management
- Graph 19: information channels, 2024
- Multi-generation families exhibit significantly greater diversity in their choices of information channels
- Graph 20: information channels, by family structure, 2024
- Ways to achieve weight management goals
- Exercise and dietary adjustments are considered the ‘gold standard’ for weight management, while functional foods have generated significant interest among consumers in trying them
- Graph 21: ways to achieve weight management goals, 2024
- Consumers interested in body shaping, fat loss and muscle gain are more willing to try health supplements
- Graph 22: interest in trying weight management supplements, by respondents who haven’t done but interested in trying any of the surveyed weight management direction, 2024
- Consumers who are interested in taking prescription drugs are also interested in health supplements and weight-loss tea
- Graph 23: interest in trying weight management supplements and weight loss/slimming tea, by respondents who haven’t tried but are interested in trying prescription drugs, 2024
- Health supplements, meal replacements and traditional Chinese Yang Sheng food/drinks show stronger retention in multi-generation families
- Graph 24: methods that have been tried and will continue to be used to achieve weight management goals, by family structure, 2024
- Purchase considerations regarding weight management food/drinks/supplements
- Natural ingredients surpass ‘artificial’ nutrients, becoming the most sought-after factor in product purchases
- Graph 25: purchase considerations regarding weight management food/drinks/supplements, 2024
- Convenience helps reach a broader consumer base, particularly the male demographic
- Each type of weight management food/drink/health supplement has its own shortcomings that need to be addressed
- Graph 26: purchase considerations regarding weight management food/drink/supplements, by respondents who have tried but will not continue consuming weight management food/drinks/supplements, 2024
- Ingredient preference for each product
- Plant proteins are drawing significant attention, while animal proteins, probiotics, dietary fibres and vitamins are stimulating interest in specific categories
- Multi-generational families have a greater interest in snacks and drinks containing probiotics
- Graph 27: top five ingredient preferences across different products, by family structure, 2024
- Innovative ways to use probiotics help attract consumers interested in losing weight, losing fat and shaping their bodies in the future
-
Issues and insights
- Explore weight management solutions for the entire family
- Weight management products should expand their positioning beyond the conventional scope to embrace a family-oriented approach
- In terms of daily diets: introducing weight loss benefits into products linked to home-cooked Chinese dishes
- In terms of nutrition and health: incorporate mild Chinese Yang Sheng ingredients into weight management meal replacement foods
- In terms of monitoring: develop discreet monitoring to record and identify issues when family members are unaware
- Weight management for the whole family also involves meeting the needs of specific members of the household
- Graph 28: the share of new food, drinks and vitamin/dietary supplements with weight management-related properties*, by selected demographic claims, 2021-24 (calculated per rolling year)
- Shatter the ‘silence’ surrounding male weight management
- For Chinese men, weight management is a more pressing issue
- When targeting the male audience, it is important to actively convey the unique benefit of enhancing vitality
- In addition, brands should focus on improving the convenience of product use
- Graph 29: share of new products with weight management-related characteristics* in food, drinks, vitamins and dietary supplements, by convenience claims, 2021-24
- Optimise the product usage process to reduce the ‘hassle factor’ for men during weight management
- What’s next: the GLP-1 trend will reshape the conversation between weight management products and consumers
- Compared to consumers worldwide, Chinese consumers rank high in interest for GLP-1 weight loss drugs
- Graph 30: the proportion of respondents who agree that ‘diabetes drugs that reduce appetite are a good solution for weight loss (eg Ozempic, Wegovy)’, 2024
- Brands have already partnered with medical institutions to launch a GLP-1 weight management guidance programme
- In the short term: formulations could incorporate natural components similar to semaglutide
- In the long term: develop complementary nutritional products for semaglutide users
-
Appendix – market size and forecast, research methodology and abbreviations
- Market size and forecast
- Methodology
- Abbreviations
Why Choose Mintel?
Mintel is the world’s leading market intelligence agency. We show you how consumers think today and tomorrow. As a trusted partner to industry leaders, we deliver game-changing insights to businesses across the globe, fuelling their marketing and innovation strategies that will shape the future.
Access high-quality market research with every purchase of Mintel’s consumer reports. Here’s what else is included in your report purchase:
- Multiple Report Formats: Mintel’s reports are available in PDF and PPT formats, and are delivered straight to your inbox, so you can easily share Mintel’s market intelligence.
- Access to Mintel’s Clients Portal: After your purchase is completed, you’ll receive an invitation to join Mintel’s Clients Portal, providing instant access to supplementary insights from Mintel’s industry experts.
- Interactive Databook: Mintel’s bespoke consumer data is presented as an interactive website, so you can deep dive into your chosen topic, explore demographics and download specific statistics.
- Custom Presentation Tool: Easily incorporate selected research data and analysis into a tailor-made presentation to win over clients and stakeholders.
Below is a generic PDF sample report. Understand what you are buying.
Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables in this sample report have been redacted.
£ 3,695 (Excl.Tax)
-
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or purchase order
-
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
-
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
-
Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Discount is applied directly at checkout
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn moreTrusted by global industry leaders
Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.
When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.
The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.
Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.
By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.
For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.
Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.
However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.
Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.
It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.
Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
