The rise in chronic diseases as well as the incidence of cancer and various other health-related scares have drawn attention to the need for healthier lifestyle choices.
Obesity has become a major health concern in Canada. The number of clinically obese people has never been higher. As result, weight management has been a steadily growing market in Canada, reaching a value of $189 million in 2012. Meal replacement products have been the main driver of the sector, growing by 5% in the past year and represent 81% of revenues. Meal replacements tend to be easy to use, which explains their popularity. However, these products have recently become more than shortcuts to weight loss. Health-conscious consumers are now using them to supplement their daily nutritional intake.
Weight loss supplements represent a market of about $35 million in Canada, which has remained stagnant in recent years due to negative media coverage.