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Report
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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…
China
Health and Wellness
simple
China Weight Management Diets Market Report 2024
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.
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
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
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.
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