By Sean Moloughney, Editor09.07.17
The world has a weight problem. More than 2 billion children and adults, or 30% of people worldwide, are overweight or obese. By any measure, consumers are struggling to manage their weight, and there are serious implications for public health.
While dietary supplements and functional nutrition products like meal replacement drinks are still in demand, more consumers are adopting lifestyle-centered approaches to weight management, and are searching for products that align with overall wellness strategies.
A Big Problem
Quite simply, demand for weight management products has been rising due to the sheer number of obese and overweight consumers worldwide, according to Missy Lowery, senior marketing manager, Capsugel (Morristown, NJ), now a Lonza Company.
“In the United States, obesity is common; almost 35%, or 78.6 million, of U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control,” she noted. “The United States is the world’s largest market for weight management and well-being products. In 2015 through mid-2016, the U.S. launched the most weight loss products, for 28% of the global market, followed closely by Italy, according to Mintel.”
U.S. sales in the weight management and well-being category are expected to rise from $5.5 billion in 2016 to $6.2 billion by 2021, or approximately 11%, she added.
Growing health concerns related to obesity include poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, occupational demands and stress, and general poor quality of life, according to Anurag Pande, PhD, vice president of scientific affairs, Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ. These factors are major drivers for dietary supplements intended to help consumers manager their weight.
More than a third of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, he added, and weight issues affect people of all ages, including millennials, middle-age consumers, and increasingly, children.
“Obesity can lead to other related health problems like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, joint problems, and metabolic syndrome, just to name a few,” said Dr. Pande. “Thus, obesity has more implications than just being overweight. It also negatively impacts quality of life. Weight loss products or meal replacement products are targeted to reduce calorie consumption or improve metabolism of fat.”
What’s ultimately driving demand for weight management products is need, according to Rick Antonoff, CEO, Novel Ingredient Services, East Hanover, NJ, which recently reached an agreement to be acquired by Innophos. “According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than two-thirds of adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight. Of these, half to two-thirds are trying to lose weight at any given time. NIH estimates that approximately 15% of U.S. adults have used weight management supplements at some point in their lives, spending about $2 billion a year.”
So the target audience for weight management products is not one particular demographic; it spans all ages and lifestyles, he added. “Though at Novel Ingredient Services, we feel strongly that weight management products should be targeted strictly to adults. Children and teens are growing and undergoing hormonal changes. Research hasn’t begun to delve into the potential repercussions for the 18-and-under crowd.”
Although Americans have become more health conscious, many continue to overeat without getting adequate exercise, which often leads to weight gain, said Bruce Abedon, PhD, vice president of scientific & regulatory affairs, NutraGenesis LLC, Brattleboro, VT. “This has driven demand for weight management products that can help consumers maintain a healthy weight through supplementation. Women continue to be the key demographic most interested in losing or maintaining weight so they can improve their health and to look good. Sports enthusiasts also understand that staying trim and fit will improve their performance.”
Julie Impérato, marketing manager, France-based Nexira, noted that, according to Innova Market Insights, within the weight management market, weight-loss is still the leading category, followed by meal replacement. “With increasing health consciousness in consumers, the weight-loss market is still growing, she noted. “According to MarketsandMarkets Research, the global weight loss and weight management market is expected to reach $206.4 billion by 2019 from $148.1 billion in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 6.9%.”
Weight management is now more aligned with overall health management, she continued. “People take into consideration the fact that being overweight is not only a problem of physical appearance/external beauty, but is also generally linked to serious health problems (e.g., cardiovascular, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.). Ingredients should therefore not only target weight loss, but also offer holistic health features. Nexira has developed three ingredients that answer each specific demand: lose weight, sculpt the body, or reduce calorie intake.”
NeOpuntia is a patented powder of Opuntia ficus indica, which is able to reduce fat absorption; Cacti-Nea is a clinically tested cactus fruit extract to help sculpt the body; and ID-alG brown seaweed extract, Ascophyllum nodosum, is able to limit fat and sugar assimilation by the inhibition of specific enzymes, according to the company.
Effective Strategies
Most people assume an effective weight management strategy involves simply losing weight, but it is more complex, said Dr. Pande. “It also means increasing healthy, lean body mass. Weight management often requires overcoming an unbalanced food intake that overloads us with calories and accumulation of fat. This is usually done by supplements that increase fat metabolism or reduce calorie absorption. Supplements that are well designed and with clinically proven benefits in therapeutic dosages can play a vital role in achieving these targets. It is important to note that while supplements can help on the pathway to healthier body composition, people also have to adopt a healthier lifestyle.”
Although there remains a sustained interest in immediate weight loss products, Ms. Lowery noted that “consumers are shifting away from them toward more lifestyle-based weight loss strategies, which include healthy eating and exercise. To help manage weight as a side effect of an overall healthier lifestyle, they are looking to supplements to serve the purpose implied by its name—supplemental.”
Consumers are predominantly gravitating toward meal replacement products and supplement nutrition drinks, logging $4 billion in 2016 sales, or almost 73% of the total $5.5 billion weight management sales in the U.S., according to a September 2016 Euromonitor International Passport report titled “Weight Management and Wellbeing in the US.”
Weight loss supplements themselves logged $1.8 billion in 2016 sales. In addition, while weight management supplements represent only a fraction of the overall Sports Nutrition and Weight Loss market, they are still in the top 10 of the Top 100 selling U.S. supplements, according to Nutrition Business Journal.
All effective weight management strategies begin with a balanced diet and proper exercise, said Dr. Abedon. “Sometimes factors associated with lifestyle or genetics make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight, however. Supplementation with efficacious, clinically tested weight management ingredients can help reduce appetite, enhance satiety, and burn more calories by increasing metabolism, leading to more successful weight management regimens. Icon Group specializes in selling clinically tested weight management nutraceuticals that also support enhanced metabolic wellness. These include WellTrim iG patented African Mango extract and Synetrim CQ patented Cissus quadrangularis extract, which are now both available in once-a-day or twice daily dosing.”
There’s no magic bullet for weight loss, said Mr. Antonoff. “Diet and exercise must be part of any weight management program. You can’t sit on the sofa eating potato chips and expect a weight management supplement to make weight disappear. But scientifically proven, thermogenic ingredients—like Advantra Z and Kinetiq, proprietary bitter orange extracts—will jumpstart your metabolism and give you a leg up in your weight loss efforts.”
More people are overweight than ever, as it’s common to ingest a larger caloric load daily, and in the wrong foods (high-sugar/carbs, low in nutrients), said Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients, Bradenton, FL. “Americans of all ages are busier than ever and are not used to taking time to read labels, figure out portions that match the caloric intake of those labels, and eat a healthier diet. They rely on the many misleading foods labeled and marketed as healthy. And although the cause of overweight and obesity is the same—more calories in than calories burned—the demographics and lifestyles to target are different.”
Still, components of an effective weight management strategy are relatively straightforward, according to Ms. Eng. “Eat a diet based on natural foods (wherein animal products should be lean), watch calories, and ensure more calories are expended than ingested. Supplements with credible human clinical trials demonstrating efficacy will dramatically assist in attaining the goal of a healthy weight range, plus a more appealing sense of well-being and vitality.”
Research commissioned by BENEO demonstrates the importance consumers are increasingly placing on fiber intake in their daily diet, as well as the foods consumed by their families. “One key motivator of this trend toward increased fiber intake is a focus on weight management,” said Jon Peters, president, BENEO, Inc., Morris Plains, NJ. “Prebiotic fibers support weight management in the long term, particularly in managing calorie intake.”
It doesn’t take much to cross over from weight maintenance to weight increase, he added. “For example, the rise in body weight in the U.S. population from 1980-1994 could be accounted for by an intake of only 4 kcals higher than that needed to maintain a healthy weight per day in women and 13 kcals higher in men. As a result, a typical adult can gain approximately 2.2 pounds per year over their lifetime. Taking this into consideration, it’s clear that eating just a few less calories per day could make the difference between a healthy, or unhealthy, bodyweight.”
Prebiotic fibers can help food manufacturers and therefore consumers address this issue and support weight management in the following key ways, according to Mr. Peters: help consumers to eat fewer calories; reduce the caloric value of foods, and manage blood sugar.
“Human intervention studies suggest that prebiotic fibers can play a pivotal role in achieving the goal of helping consumers eat less, thus more easily managing their weight. BENEO’s prebiotic fibers, oligofructose-enriched inulin and oligofructose, have been shown to have beneficial effects not only for weight management but also for energy balance, by helping to reduce spontaneous caloric intake in people consuming a non-restricted diet. In a study involving overweight and obese adults, oligofructose-enriched inulin, included at a dosage of 12 grams per day for three weeks, resulted in a significant reduction in energy intake.”
A healthy weight management strategy can also be enhanced with BENEO’s Palatinose (isomaltulose), which helps to support blood glucose management, he added. “Blood glucose regulation can become imbalanced over time when challenged by high glucose loads in short succession. Consistently triggering an insulin response encourages increasing insulin releases and fat storage. This can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity and a collapse in insulin production. Having a high glycemic diet, with its significant insulin demands, can lead to the onset of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
Palatinose (isomaltulose) is low glycemic, Mr. Peters noted. As a fully available carbohydrate, Palatinose supplies the body with the same amount of energy as other commonly used, fully available carbohydrates like sucrose or maltodextrin, but in a more balanced way.
“Palatinose is digested by the human enzymes in the small intestine four to five times more slowly, which leads to a slow release of glucose into the blood, resulting in an overall low glycemic response. Derived from beet sugar, Palatinose has a natural sweet taste and can be used to replace sucrose and other high glycemic carbohydrates in many food and drink applications. Its unique profile supports the development of innovative products that contribute to carbohydrate-based, low glycemic nutrition,” said Mr. Peters.
Quality Concerns
With the expanding obesity epidemic, and resulting demand for supplements to help people lose and manage their weight, research on natural compounds has brought some effective dietary supplement solutions to the market.
“While these products help people in their efforts to lose excess weight, it also led to some manufacturers bringing cheap imitations lacking safety and clinical studies and, in the worst cases, supplements adulterated with pharmaceutical compounds,” said Dr. Pande. “While choosing the weight loss ingredient for your brand, it is important that this choice is based on clinical investigation, sound research, proper control of raw materials, and quality control, and not on a cheap price.”
Companies need to do their homework and choose ingredients wisely and carefully, he added. “Sabinsa Corporation is a good example as one of the major suppliers of natural ingredients that have gained recognition for safe and reliable weight loss supplements. Every product Sabinsa brings to the market has strong science and clinical support. One of the major weight loss products, coleus, is a good example of efforts the company takes to bring the products to the market.”
Sabinsa is a vertically integrated company, which cultivates the coleus on its contract farms. The raw material is then harvested using proper techniques, said Dr. Pande. “The extraction and purification of the coleus roots is done at Sabinsa’s in-house facility equipped with state of the art extraction equipment and techniques like continuous batch extraction. It’s also supported by a state of the art quality control department overlooking every stage of processing to ensure high quality products. Sabinsa’s patented coleus, ForsLean, is one of the most clinically studied coleus brands in the market today with a long history of use in the U.S. and other major global markets.”
To ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of their products, manufacturers often look to branded weight management ingredients, said Mr. Antonoff. “That’s why proprietary ingredients are experiencing greater demand than ever before. With branded ingredients, manufacturers enjoy the safety, security, and support necessary for the long-term viability, confidence, and stability of a consumer brand. Advantra Z, introduced more than 20 years ago, is an excellent case in point. After all these years, this tried and true ingredient is still experiencing annual double-digit growth. Our formula for success is a winning combination of scientific research, exceptional quality standards, and highly developed supplier relationships. Simply put, Advantra Z, and now its enhanced version, Kinetiq, offer a quality value that generic bitter orange cannot.”
Natural products, coming from a vegetable source are in demand, according to Ms. Impérato, and more consumers want to know about the ingredients used: where they come from, and how they are processed. “Nexira is particularly attentive to the growing consumer demand for healthy, clean, and organic products. Thanks to exclusive partnerships with local growers in the Mediterranean region, Nexira ensures the origin and the traceability of its cactus ingredients, NeOpuntia and Cacti-Nea.”
Special Delivery
Manufacturers would be wise to understand that delivery formats can appeal to consumers as much as the ingredients themselves, noted Capsugel’s Ms. Lowery. “Dosage forms can influence regular usage as well as efficacy and outcomes for the supplements. While weight management products can be delivered through lozenges, tablets, powders (for shakes), liquids (ready-to-drink beverages), and other methods (snack bars), capsules are making a real impression with manufacturers and consumers. According to Mintel, of the 78 new weight management supplements launched globally between January 2015 and May 2016, 46% were formulated in capsules.”
Some of the appeal for capsules are very clear. “The consumer mega-trends of transparency and authenticity are influencing buying in this category,” Ms. Lowery noted. “Claims on some of the major new products speak to naturally nutrient-rich ingredients, non-GMO verification, and minimal processing. Brand companies are relying on capsules as their delivery form for their clean label approach and because they are simple and convenient for consumers to use. There are no messy packages. Capsules can slide right into purses, bags, and pockets. They can be swallowed with just a swig of water; no mixing necessary.”
Other benefits to capsules as a delivery form are less obvious but significant in bolstering effectiveness of supplement ingredients. Formulating with hard capsule technologies can meet delivery challenges of stability, bioavailability, and taste masking for a host of weight management ingredients to enhance their consumption, while providing vegetarian, non-GMO and values-driven consumer choices.
Capsugel offers hard capsule options for specific ingredient delivery dilemmas related to weight management. For example, resveratrol is a molecule found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine. Research has been investigating resveratrol’s potential effect on weight management and increase in exercise endurance for caloric consumption.
The resveratrol molecule is prone to degrade if exposed to oxygen, heat, or light that can compromise the supplement’s stability over time. But stability can be achieved when the extract liquid is encapsulated in a Licaps hard gelatin capsule that is flushed with nitrogen before it is fused shut with a hermetic seal in order to reduce oxidative action, according to Justin Southern, formulation scientist, Capsugel. “The capsule’s opaque shell can also protect the contents from light. Furthermore, because resveratrol has a bitter taste, consuming it via a hard capsule that opens after ingestion eliminates that unpleasant problem if resveratrol is swallowed in straight liquid form. Licaps capsules are also effective in maintaining stability for an L-arginine active micronized into a liquid formulation.”
A naturally occurring metabolite of the body’s leucine, HMB (Β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid), has been shown to increase the synthesis of proteins in skeletal muscle and reduce muscle damage and breakdown post-exercise, which helps to support regular exercise and muscle health. HMB in a calcium salt form or a free-acid (FA) form is often put into a liquid for drinking. For greater convenience and bioavailability, HMB-FA can be encapsulated at much higher dosage levels than HMB salt form, according to Mr. Southern. “Up to 500 mg dose in a colorless readily absorbable liquid can be stabilized for long-term integrity, despite its acidic nature, in a Vcaps Plus hard capsule made of a low-moisture hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) vegetarian polymer. Vcaps Plus capsules are also effective for protecting other moisture sensitive ingredients such as L-carnitine, white kidney bean extract, and garcinia cambogia.”
Creatine is a compound naturally synthesized within humans and stored in muscle tissue. Creatine restores adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source that the body uses at rest and especially during strenuous exercise.
Increased creatine consumption has been linked to leaner body mass over time. Creatine is highly bioavailable after ingestion, but because a portion of the compound is prone to degradation by stomach acids and enzymes, delayed delivery closer to or within the intestines is preferred. “An optimized delivery solution is an acid-resistant DRcaps hard capsule that delays the onset of opening until 52 minutes after ingestion as the capsule is about to leave the stomach,” said Mr. Southern. “DRcaps is also effective for delaying delivery of acid-sensitive probiotics and SAMe to the intestines where they work best.“
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation, usually in safflower extract form, has been studied to aid in fat loss for obese subjects and shown in vitro to inhibit the transformation of non-fat food materials into fat. L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid-like nutrient essential for fat metabolism and energy production. In combination, it is thought these ingredients can contribute to energy production to maintain an active lifestyle for those deficient in L-carnitine, including the aging population, while supporting fat loss through the actions of CLA.
“Because CLA is an oil and L-carnitine is a water-soluble powder, the two ingredients will not mix, resulting in an insoluble slurry as well as an unattractive fill,” noted Mr. Southern. “They can, however, be combined in a convenient single dose in a capsule-within-a-capsule application known as DUOCAPS capsule. The outer capsule filled with safflower oil with high CLA concentration dissolves first, followed shortly by dissolution of the inner low-moisture HPMC vegetarian capsule used to protect the integrity of the hygroscopic L-carnitine fill.”
Additionally, the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine are essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body. These amino acids are incorporated into proteins and thus contribute to the anabolic process of building muscle. BCAA powders are typically flavored due to taste issues. An alternative delivery form is lipid multiparticulate (LMP) technology that incorporates the BCAA in a spherical lipid that effectively masks the taste because they dissolve after ingestion, not in the mouth, Mr. Southern said. “The LMP microspheres can be included in a powdered blend in capsules and sprinkle capsules for applications on food such as yogurt. LMP technology is also effective for delivery of the bitter-tasting theacrine that is often paired with caffeine to promote energy, mental sharpness, and focus.”
Innovative Solutions
Weight management ingredients can be utilized in various applications including both functional foods and beverages as well as dietary supplements, said Dr. Abedon. “In the food category, meal replacements and bars are often used as delivery vehicles. In the beverage category, ready-to-drink products remain popular but stick packs are increasingly chosen due to their convenience and light weight. Dietary supplements applications include capsules, tablets, and soft gels. Popular liquid supplements also utilize shots, stick packs, and effervescent delivery systems.”
WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ are examples of premium ingredients with demontstrated efficacy, quality, and safety, he added. “WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ are self-affirmed GRAS and have both been evaluated in multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled, human clinical trials, which have demonstrated their efficacy in the areas of weight management and metabolic wellness. These trials also confirmed they are well tolerated. Each ingredient has been the subject of numerous safety tests that were performed as part of achieving self-affirmed GRAS status.”
For quality assurance purposes and to ensure superior compliance, consistency, and purity, NutraGenesis/Icon Group maintains full transparency in terms of the integrity of the supply chain, using the highest quality raw materials, and providing lot-specific ingredient documentation. In addition, the most up-to-date qualitative ID testing and quantitative analytical testing is utilized for these ingredients.
“WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ continue to experience rapid sales growth because they are easy for formulators to work with and can be used in multiple applications, are self-affirmed GRAS, possess structure/function claims in the areas of healthy weight management and metabolic wellness, and are supported by multiple randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials using both once daily and twice daily dosage protocols,” said Dr. Abedon. “Study durations ranged from 8-10 weeks for these trials. Subjects taking the recommended dose of these ingredients experienced significant reductions in weight, body fat, waist size, and hip size. Additional health benefits that were demonstrated in the trials included enhanced cardiovascular health and other metabolic wellness properties.”
Dr. Abedon also noted a trend of ingredients that can support healthy metabolic function such as in the areas of cardiovascular health and maintaining blood sugar levels that are already in the normal range. “Both WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ are well positioned for this trend with clinical data to support these multifunctional health benefits.”
Innovative ingredient solutions from Sabinsa include Garcinia extracts Citrin, Citrin-K, and GarCitrin, which each possess unique features, according to Dr. Pande. “Patented GarCitrin combines Garcinol with HCA (hydroxy citric acid). Citrin-K has GRAS status, is completely water soluble and brought the concept of weight loss coffee and tea to the market, especially in the EU. ForsLean, one of the most well recognized coleus-based weight loss supplement ingredient brands, has been in the market for over 25 years.”
Sabinsa has also introduced products like Salaretin and Fabenol, which help reduce calorie absorption in the gut. “Combination products like LeanGard are well known for bringing the three pronged approach of break, block, burn to fight the problem of obesity,” said Dr. Pande.
The latest research dealing with weight management has confirmed that excess weight may have different origins that must be identified in order to address the root problem, said Ms. Impérato. “In most cases, there is not just one origin of overweight, which increases the complexity of the problem. For example, recent research identified the important involvement of the gut flora, and the relation that may exist between some metabolic troubles like diabetes or pre-diabetes, fat metabolism and the gain of weight.”
Novel’s Mr. Antonoff noted a blending of the weight management and sports nutrition categories. “More and more consumers are embracing the fact that long-term weight management requires a healthy lifestyle. This not only includes healthy eating habits, but also regular activity/exercise. Another major movement is consumer demand for functional foods addressing weight management. More and more consumers want weight management supplementation to be part of their regular diets.” This often includes convenient options like bars, stick packs, powders, chews, gummies, and beverages that people can take with them.
The industry is constantly innovating, according to BENEO’s Mr. Peters. “BENEO sees many new food and beverage products with more balanced nutritional profiles. Consumer demands for high fiber, high protein, and less sugar are driving these developments. thinkThin, for example, has recently launched a line of great tasting Protein and Fiber Hot Oatmeal products containing chicory root fiber that contain less than 200 calories while delivering 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. This line of hot oatmeal cereals is a great example of products that are delivering the nutrition that consumers are looking for—high in protein and fiber—in a balanced and calorie-controlled way.”
Using prebiotic fibers to reduce calories is an easy way for manufacturers to add dietary fiber to foods that promote reduced caloric content, without altering the product’s taste profile. “This is essential in today’s market where consumers are looking for healthier options but don’t want to give up the indulgent taste (and mouthfeel) of their food and beverages,” said Mr. Peters.
HP Ingredients offers CitruSlim, a proprietary blend of citrus flavanone-O-glycosides from Bergamot and Eurypeptides from Eurycoma longifolia that, according to Ms. Eng, can promote an anabolic state, reduce cortisol, activate AMPK, reduce triglycerides, and help balance blood glucose levels. “CitruSlim can promote healthy weight loss by helping dieters maintain high energy levels during weight loss programs, prevent the body from storing fat, and reduce appetite.”
Meanwhile, excessive cortisol needs to be addressed, as stress can be a culprit to weight gain, said Mr. Eng. “Many people become overeaters when they feel a lot of pressure. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol rise during tension-filled times. This can turn your overeating into a habit. Because increased levels of the hormone also help cause higher insulin levels, your blood sugar drops and you crave sugary, fatty foods.”
For a dieter, it would be expected for cortisol to rise and testosterone to fall following several weeks of dieting, she added. This change in hormone balance (elevated cortisol and suppressed testosterone) is an important factor leading to the familiar “plateau” that many dieters hit (when weight loss slows/stops) after 6-8 weeks on a weight loss regimen. “By maintaining normal testosterone levels, a dieter could expect to also maintain their muscle mass and metabolic rate (versus a drop in both subsequent to lower testosterone levels)—and thus continue to lose weight without plateauing,” said Ms. Eng.
The companys’s LJ100 is a patented Tongkat ali extract that has been shown to help maintain normal high free-testosterone levels and healthy low cortisol levels, which help improve stress hormone profiles and mood state parameters.
For example, in one study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2013, 64 subjects (32 men and 32 women) were randomized to receive 200 mg/day of LJ100 or placebo for four weeks. At the end of treatment, LJ100 group showed significant improvements in stress parameters tension (-11%), anger (-12%), and confusion (-15%) compared to placebo. The stress hormone profile (salivary cortisol and testosterone) was significantly improved by LJ100, with reduced cortisol (-16%) and increased testosterone (+37%). LJ100 appears to have significant potential for restoring hormone balance (cortisol/testosterone) and improving psychological mood state in humans exposed to various modern stressors, including aging, dieting, and exercise stress.
While dietary supplements and functional nutrition products like meal replacement drinks are still in demand, more consumers are adopting lifestyle-centered approaches to weight management, and are searching for products that align with overall wellness strategies.
A Big Problem
Quite simply, demand for weight management products has been rising due to the sheer number of obese and overweight consumers worldwide, according to Missy Lowery, senior marketing manager, Capsugel (Morristown, NJ), now a Lonza Company.
“In the United States, obesity is common; almost 35%, or 78.6 million, of U.S. adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control,” she noted. “The United States is the world’s largest market for weight management and well-being products. In 2015 through mid-2016, the U.S. launched the most weight loss products, for 28% of the global market, followed closely by Italy, according to Mintel.”
U.S. sales in the weight management and well-being category are expected to rise from $5.5 billion in 2016 to $6.2 billion by 2021, or approximately 11%, she added.
Growing health concerns related to obesity include poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, occupational demands and stress, and general poor quality of life, according to Anurag Pande, PhD, vice president of scientific affairs, Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ. These factors are major drivers for dietary supplements intended to help consumers manager their weight.
More than a third of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, he added, and weight issues affect people of all ages, including millennials, middle-age consumers, and increasingly, children.
“Obesity can lead to other related health problems like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, joint problems, and metabolic syndrome, just to name a few,” said Dr. Pande. “Thus, obesity has more implications than just being overweight. It also negatively impacts quality of life. Weight loss products or meal replacement products are targeted to reduce calorie consumption or improve metabolism of fat.”
What’s ultimately driving demand for weight management products is need, according to Rick Antonoff, CEO, Novel Ingredient Services, East Hanover, NJ, which recently reached an agreement to be acquired by Innophos. “According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than two-thirds of adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight. Of these, half to two-thirds are trying to lose weight at any given time. NIH estimates that approximately 15% of U.S. adults have used weight management supplements at some point in their lives, spending about $2 billion a year.”
So the target audience for weight management products is not one particular demographic; it spans all ages and lifestyles, he added. “Though at Novel Ingredient Services, we feel strongly that weight management products should be targeted strictly to adults. Children and teens are growing and undergoing hormonal changes. Research hasn’t begun to delve into the potential repercussions for the 18-and-under crowd.”
Although Americans have become more health conscious, many continue to overeat without getting adequate exercise, which often leads to weight gain, said Bruce Abedon, PhD, vice president of scientific & regulatory affairs, NutraGenesis LLC, Brattleboro, VT. “This has driven demand for weight management products that can help consumers maintain a healthy weight through supplementation. Women continue to be the key demographic most interested in losing or maintaining weight so they can improve their health and to look good. Sports enthusiasts also understand that staying trim and fit will improve their performance.”
Julie Impérato, marketing manager, France-based Nexira, noted that, according to Innova Market Insights, within the weight management market, weight-loss is still the leading category, followed by meal replacement. “With increasing health consciousness in consumers, the weight-loss market is still growing, she noted. “According to MarketsandMarkets Research, the global weight loss and weight management market is expected to reach $206.4 billion by 2019 from $148.1 billion in 2014, growing at a CAGR of 6.9%.”
Weight management is now more aligned with overall health management, she continued. “People take into consideration the fact that being overweight is not only a problem of physical appearance/external beauty, but is also generally linked to serious health problems (e.g., cardiovascular, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.). Ingredients should therefore not only target weight loss, but also offer holistic health features. Nexira has developed three ingredients that answer each specific demand: lose weight, sculpt the body, or reduce calorie intake.”
NeOpuntia is a patented powder of Opuntia ficus indica, which is able to reduce fat absorption; Cacti-Nea is a clinically tested cactus fruit extract to help sculpt the body; and ID-alG brown seaweed extract, Ascophyllum nodosum, is able to limit fat and sugar assimilation by the inhibition of specific enzymes, according to the company.
Effective Strategies
Most people assume an effective weight management strategy involves simply losing weight, but it is more complex, said Dr. Pande. “It also means increasing healthy, lean body mass. Weight management often requires overcoming an unbalanced food intake that overloads us with calories and accumulation of fat. This is usually done by supplements that increase fat metabolism or reduce calorie absorption. Supplements that are well designed and with clinically proven benefits in therapeutic dosages can play a vital role in achieving these targets. It is important to note that while supplements can help on the pathway to healthier body composition, people also have to adopt a healthier lifestyle.”
Although there remains a sustained interest in immediate weight loss products, Ms. Lowery noted that “consumers are shifting away from them toward more lifestyle-based weight loss strategies, which include healthy eating and exercise. To help manage weight as a side effect of an overall healthier lifestyle, they are looking to supplements to serve the purpose implied by its name—supplemental.”
Consumers are predominantly gravitating toward meal replacement products and supplement nutrition drinks, logging $4 billion in 2016 sales, or almost 73% of the total $5.5 billion weight management sales in the U.S., according to a September 2016 Euromonitor International Passport report titled “Weight Management and Wellbeing in the US.”
Weight loss supplements themselves logged $1.8 billion in 2016 sales. In addition, while weight management supplements represent only a fraction of the overall Sports Nutrition and Weight Loss market, they are still in the top 10 of the Top 100 selling U.S. supplements, according to Nutrition Business Journal.
All effective weight management strategies begin with a balanced diet and proper exercise, said Dr. Abedon. “Sometimes factors associated with lifestyle or genetics make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight, however. Supplementation with efficacious, clinically tested weight management ingredients can help reduce appetite, enhance satiety, and burn more calories by increasing metabolism, leading to more successful weight management regimens. Icon Group specializes in selling clinically tested weight management nutraceuticals that also support enhanced metabolic wellness. These include WellTrim iG patented African Mango extract and Synetrim CQ patented Cissus quadrangularis extract, which are now both available in once-a-day or twice daily dosing.”
There’s no magic bullet for weight loss, said Mr. Antonoff. “Diet and exercise must be part of any weight management program. You can’t sit on the sofa eating potato chips and expect a weight management supplement to make weight disappear. But scientifically proven, thermogenic ingredients—like Advantra Z and Kinetiq, proprietary bitter orange extracts—will jumpstart your metabolism and give you a leg up in your weight loss efforts.”
More people are overweight than ever, as it’s common to ingest a larger caloric load daily, and in the wrong foods (high-sugar/carbs, low in nutrients), said Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients, Bradenton, FL. “Americans of all ages are busier than ever and are not used to taking time to read labels, figure out portions that match the caloric intake of those labels, and eat a healthier diet. They rely on the many misleading foods labeled and marketed as healthy. And although the cause of overweight and obesity is the same—more calories in than calories burned—the demographics and lifestyles to target are different.”
Still, components of an effective weight management strategy are relatively straightforward, according to Ms. Eng. “Eat a diet based on natural foods (wherein animal products should be lean), watch calories, and ensure more calories are expended than ingested. Supplements with credible human clinical trials demonstrating efficacy will dramatically assist in attaining the goal of a healthy weight range, plus a more appealing sense of well-being and vitality.”
Research commissioned by BENEO demonstrates the importance consumers are increasingly placing on fiber intake in their daily diet, as well as the foods consumed by their families. “One key motivator of this trend toward increased fiber intake is a focus on weight management,” said Jon Peters, president, BENEO, Inc., Morris Plains, NJ. “Prebiotic fibers support weight management in the long term, particularly in managing calorie intake.”
It doesn’t take much to cross over from weight maintenance to weight increase, he added. “For example, the rise in body weight in the U.S. population from 1980-1994 could be accounted for by an intake of only 4 kcals higher than that needed to maintain a healthy weight per day in women and 13 kcals higher in men. As a result, a typical adult can gain approximately 2.2 pounds per year over their lifetime. Taking this into consideration, it’s clear that eating just a few less calories per day could make the difference between a healthy, or unhealthy, bodyweight.”
Prebiotic fibers can help food manufacturers and therefore consumers address this issue and support weight management in the following key ways, according to Mr. Peters: help consumers to eat fewer calories; reduce the caloric value of foods, and manage blood sugar.
“Human intervention studies suggest that prebiotic fibers can play a pivotal role in achieving the goal of helping consumers eat less, thus more easily managing their weight. BENEO’s prebiotic fibers, oligofructose-enriched inulin and oligofructose, have been shown to have beneficial effects not only for weight management but also for energy balance, by helping to reduce spontaneous caloric intake in people consuming a non-restricted diet. In a study involving overweight and obese adults, oligofructose-enriched inulin, included at a dosage of 12 grams per day for three weeks, resulted in a significant reduction in energy intake.”
A healthy weight management strategy can also be enhanced with BENEO’s Palatinose (isomaltulose), which helps to support blood glucose management, he added. “Blood glucose regulation can become imbalanced over time when challenged by high glucose loads in short succession. Consistently triggering an insulin response encourages increasing insulin releases and fat storage. This can lead to a decrease in insulin sensitivity and a collapse in insulin production. Having a high glycemic diet, with its significant insulin demands, can lead to the onset of non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.”
Palatinose (isomaltulose) is low glycemic, Mr. Peters noted. As a fully available carbohydrate, Palatinose supplies the body with the same amount of energy as other commonly used, fully available carbohydrates like sucrose or maltodextrin, but in a more balanced way.
“Palatinose is digested by the human enzymes in the small intestine four to five times more slowly, which leads to a slow release of glucose into the blood, resulting in an overall low glycemic response. Derived from beet sugar, Palatinose has a natural sweet taste and can be used to replace sucrose and other high glycemic carbohydrates in many food and drink applications. Its unique profile supports the development of innovative products that contribute to carbohydrate-based, low glycemic nutrition,” said Mr. Peters.
Quality Concerns
With the expanding obesity epidemic, and resulting demand for supplements to help people lose and manage their weight, research on natural compounds has brought some effective dietary supplement solutions to the market.
“While these products help people in their efforts to lose excess weight, it also led to some manufacturers bringing cheap imitations lacking safety and clinical studies and, in the worst cases, supplements adulterated with pharmaceutical compounds,” said Dr. Pande. “While choosing the weight loss ingredient for your brand, it is important that this choice is based on clinical investigation, sound research, proper control of raw materials, and quality control, and not on a cheap price.”
Companies need to do their homework and choose ingredients wisely and carefully, he added. “Sabinsa Corporation is a good example as one of the major suppliers of natural ingredients that have gained recognition for safe and reliable weight loss supplements. Every product Sabinsa brings to the market has strong science and clinical support. One of the major weight loss products, coleus, is a good example of efforts the company takes to bring the products to the market.”
Sabinsa is a vertically integrated company, which cultivates the coleus on its contract farms. The raw material is then harvested using proper techniques, said Dr. Pande. “The extraction and purification of the coleus roots is done at Sabinsa’s in-house facility equipped with state of the art extraction equipment and techniques like continuous batch extraction. It’s also supported by a state of the art quality control department overlooking every stage of processing to ensure high quality products. Sabinsa’s patented coleus, ForsLean, is one of the most clinically studied coleus brands in the market today with a long history of use in the U.S. and other major global markets.”
To ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of their products, manufacturers often look to branded weight management ingredients, said Mr. Antonoff. “That’s why proprietary ingredients are experiencing greater demand than ever before. With branded ingredients, manufacturers enjoy the safety, security, and support necessary for the long-term viability, confidence, and stability of a consumer brand. Advantra Z, introduced more than 20 years ago, is an excellent case in point. After all these years, this tried and true ingredient is still experiencing annual double-digit growth. Our formula for success is a winning combination of scientific research, exceptional quality standards, and highly developed supplier relationships. Simply put, Advantra Z, and now its enhanced version, Kinetiq, offer a quality value that generic bitter orange cannot.”
Natural products, coming from a vegetable source are in demand, according to Ms. Impérato, and more consumers want to know about the ingredients used: where they come from, and how they are processed. “Nexira is particularly attentive to the growing consumer demand for healthy, clean, and organic products. Thanks to exclusive partnerships with local growers in the Mediterranean region, Nexira ensures the origin and the traceability of its cactus ingredients, NeOpuntia and Cacti-Nea.”
Special Delivery
Manufacturers would be wise to understand that delivery formats can appeal to consumers as much as the ingredients themselves, noted Capsugel’s Ms. Lowery. “Dosage forms can influence regular usage as well as efficacy and outcomes for the supplements. While weight management products can be delivered through lozenges, tablets, powders (for shakes), liquids (ready-to-drink beverages), and other methods (snack bars), capsules are making a real impression with manufacturers and consumers. According to Mintel, of the 78 new weight management supplements launched globally between January 2015 and May 2016, 46% were formulated in capsules.”
Some of the appeal for capsules are very clear. “The consumer mega-trends of transparency and authenticity are influencing buying in this category,” Ms. Lowery noted. “Claims on some of the major new products speak to naturally nutrient-rich ingredients, non-GMO verification, and minimal processing. Brand companies are relying on capsules as their delivery form for their clean label approach and because they are simple and convenient for consumers to use. There are no messy packages. Capsules can slide right into purses, bags, and pockets. They can be swallowed with just a swig of water; no mixing necessary.”
Other benefits to capsules as a delivery form are less obvious but significant in bolstering effectiveness of supplement ingredients. Formulating with hard capsule technologies can meet delivery challenges of stability, bioavailability, and taste masking for a host of weight management ingredients to enhance their consumption, while providing vegetarian, non-GMO and values-driven consumer choices.
Capsugel offers hard capsule options for specific ingredient delivery dilemmas related to weight management. For example, resveratrol is a molecule found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine. Research has been investigating resveratrol’s potential effect on weight management and increase in exercise endurance for caloric consumption.
The resveratrol molecule is prone to degrade if exposed to oxygen, heat, or light that can compromise the supplement’s stability over time. But stability can be achieved when the extract liquid is encapsulated in a Licaps hard gelatin capsule that is flushed with nitrogen before it is fused shut with a hermetic seal in order to reduce oxidative action, according to Justin Southern, formulation scientist, Capsugel. “The capsule’s opaque shell can also protect the contents from light. Furthermore, because resveratrol has a bitter taste, consuming it via a hard capsule that opens after ingestion eliminates that unpleasant problem if resveratrol is swallowed in straight liquid form. Licaps capsules are also effective in maintaining stability for an L-arginine active micronized into a liquid formulation.”
A naturally occurring metabolite of the body’s leucine, HMB (Β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid), has been shown to increase the synthesis of proteins in skeletal muscle and reduce muscle damage and breakdown post-exercise, which helps to support regular exercise and muscle health. HMB in a calcium salt form or a free-acid (FA) form is often put into a liquid for drinking. For greater convenience and bioavailability, HMB-FA can be encapsulated at much higher dosage levels than HMB salt form, according to Mr. Southern. “Up to 500 mg dose in a colorless readily absorbable liquid can be stabilized for long-term integrity, despite its acidic nature, in a Vcaps Plus hard capsule made of a low-moisture hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) vegetarian polymer. Vcaps Plus capsules are also effective for protecting other moisture sensitive ingredients such as L-carnitine, white kidney bean extract, and garcinia cambogia.”
Creatine is a compound naturally synthesized within humans and stored in muscle tissue. Creatine restores adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source that the body uses at rest and especially during strenuous exercise.
Increased creatine consumption has been linked to leaner body mass over time. Creatine is highly bioavailable after ingestion, but because a portion of the compound is prone to degradation by stomach acids and enzymes, delayed delivery closer to or within the intestines is preferred. “An optimized delivery solution is an acid-resistant DRcaps hard capsule that delays the onset of opening until 52 minutes after ingestion as the capsule is about to leave the stomach,” said Mr. Southern. “DRcaps is also effective for delaying delivery of acid-sensitive probiotics and SAMe to the intestines where they work best.“
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation, usually in safflower extract form, has been studied to aid in fat loss for obese subjects and shown in vitro to inhibit the transformation of non-fat food materials into fat. L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid-like nutrient essential for fat metabolism and energy production. In combination, it is thought these ingredients can contribute to energy production to maintain an active lifestyle for those deficient in L-carnitine, including the aging population, while supporting fat loss through the actions of CLA.
“Because CLA is an oil and L-carnitine is a water-soluble powder, the two ingredients will not mix, resulting in an insoluble slurry as well as an unattractive fill,” noted Mr. Southern. “They can, however, be combined in a convenient single dose in a capsule-within-a-capsule application known as DUOCAPS capsule. The outer capsule filled with safflower oil with high CLA concentration dissolves first, followed shortly by dissolution of the inner low-moisture HPMC vegetarian capsule used to protect the integrity of the hygroscopic L-carnitine fill.”
Additionally, the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine, and valine are essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body. These amino acids are incorporated into proteins and thus contribute to the anabolic process of building muscle. BCAA powders are typically flavored due to taste issues. An alternative delivery form is lipid multiparticulate (LMP) technology that incorporates the BCAA in a spherical lipid that effectively masks the taste because they dissolve after ingestion, not in the mouth, Mr. Southern said. “The LMP microspheres can be included in a powdered blend in capsules and sprinkle capsules for applications on food such as yogurt. LMP technology is also effective for delivery of the bitter-tasting theacrine that is often paired with caffeine to promote energy, mental sharpness, and focus.”
Innovative Solutions
Weight management ingredients can be utilized in various applications including both functional foods and beverages as well as dietary supplements, said Dr. Abedon. “In the food category, meal replacements and bars are often used as delivery vehicles. In the beverage category, ready-to-drink products remain popular but stick packs are increasingly chosen due to their convenience and light weight. Dietary supplements applications include capsules, tablets, and soft gels. Popular liquid supplements also utilize shots, stick packs, and effervescent delivery systems.”
WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ are examples of premium ingredients with demontstrated efficacy, quality, and safety, he added. “WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ are self-affirmed GRAS and have both been evaluated in multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled, human clinical trials, which have demonstrated their efficacy in the areas of weight management and metabolic wellness. These trials also confirmed they are well tolerated. Each ingredient has been the subject of numerous safety tests that were performed as part of achieving self-affirmed GRAS status.”
For quality assurance purposes and to ensure superior compliance, consistency, and purity, NutraGenesis/Icon Group maintains full transparency in terms of the integrity of the supply chain, using the highest quality raw materials, and providing lot-specific ingredient documentation. In addition, the most up-to-date qualitative ID testing and quantitative analytical testing is utilized for these ingredients.
“WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ continue to experience rapid sales growth because they are easy for formulators to work with and can be used in multiple applications, are self-affirmed GRAS, possess structure/function claims in the areas of healthy weight management and metabolic wellness, and are supported by multiple randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials using both once daily and twice daily dosage protocols,” said Dr. Abedon. “Study durations ranged from 8-10 weeks for these trials. Subjects taking the recommended dose of these ingredients experienced significant reductions in weight, body fat, waist size, and hip size. Additional health benefits that were demonstrated in the trials included enhanced cardiovascular health and other metabolic wellness properties.”
Dr. Abedon also noted a trend of ingredients that can support healthy metabolic function such as in the areas of cardiovascular health and maintaining blood sugar levels that are already in the normal range. “Both WellTrim iG and Synetrim CQ are well positioned for this trend with clinical data to support these multifunctional health benefits.”
Innovative ingredient solutions from Sabinsa include Garcinia extracts Citrin, Citrin-K, and GarCitrin, which each possess unique features, according to Dr. Pande. “Patented GarCitrin combines Garcinol with HCA (hydroxy citric acid). Citrin-K has GRAS status, is completely water soluble and brought the concept of weight loss coffee and tea to the market, especially in the EU. ForsLean, one of the most well recognized coleus-based weight loss supplement ingredient brands, has been in the market for over 25 years.”
Sabinsa has also introduced products like Salaretin and Fabenol, which help reduce calorie absorption in the gut. “Combination products like LeanGard are well known for bringing the three pronged approach of break, block, burn to fight the problem of obesity,” said Dr. Pande.
The latest research dealing with weight management has confirmed that excess weight may have different origins that must be identified in order to address the root problem, said Ms. Impérato. “In most cases, there is not just one origin of overweight, which increases the complexity of the problem. For example, recent research identified the important involvement of the gut flora, and the relation that may exist between some metabolic troubles like diabetes or pre-diabetes, fat metabolism and the gain of weight.”
Novel’s Mr. Antonoff noted a blending of the weight management and sports nutrition categories. “More and more consumers are embracing the fact that long-term weight management requires a healthy lifestyle. This not only includes healthy eating habits, but also regular activity/exercise. Another major movement is consumer demand for functional foods addressing weight management. More and more consumers want weight management supplementation to be part of their regular diets.” This often includes convenient options like bars, stick packs, powders, chews, gummies, and beverages that people can take with them.
The industry is constantly innovating, according to BENEO’s Mr. Peters. “BENEO sees many new food and beverage products with more balanced nutritional profiles. Consumer demands for high fiber, high protein, and less sugar are driving these developments. thinkThin, for example, has recently launched a line of great tasting Protein and Fiber Hot Oatmeal products containing chicory root fiber that contain less than 200 calories while delivering 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. This line of hot oatmeal cereals is a great example of products that are delivering the nutrition that consumers are looking for—high in protein and fiber—in a balanced and calorie-controlled way.”
Using prebiotic fibers to reduce calories is an easy way for manufacturers to add dietary fiber to foods that promote reduced caloric content, without altering the product’s taste profile. “This is essential in today’s market where consumers are looking for healthier options but don’t want to give up the indulgent taste (and mouthfeel) of their food and beverages,” said Mr. Peters.
HP Ingredients offers CitruSlim, a proprietary blend of citrus flavanone-O-glycosides from Bergamot and Eurypeptides from Eurycoma longifolia that, according to Ms. Eng, can promote an anabolic state, reduce cortisol, activate AMPK, reduce triglycerides, and help balance blood glucose levels. “CitruSlim can promote healthy weight loss by helping dieters maintain high energy levels during weight loss programs, prevent the body from storing fat, and reduce appetite.”
Meanwhile, excessive cortisol needs to be addressed, as stress can be a culprit to weight gain, said Mr. Eng. “Many people become overeaters when they feel a lot of pressure. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol rise during tension-filled times. This can turn your overeating into a habit. Because increased levels of the hormone also help cause higher insulin levels, your blood sugar drops and you crave sugary, fatty foods.”
For a dieter, it would be expected for cortisol to rise and testosterone to fall following several weeks of dieting, she added. This change in hormone balance (elevated cortisol and suppressed testosterone) is an important factor leading to the familiar “plateau” that many dieters hit (when weight loss slows/stops) after 6-8 weeks on a weight loss regimen. “By maintaining normal testosterone levels, a dieter could expect to also maintain their muscle mass and metabolic rate (versus a drop in both subsequent to lower testosterone levels)—and thus continue to lose weight without plateauing,” said Ms. Eng.
The companys’s LJ100 is a patented Tongkat ali extract that has been shown to help maintain normal high free-testosterone levels and healthy low cortisol levels, which help improve stress hormone profiles and mood state parameters.
For example, in one study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2013, 64 subjects (32 men and 32 women) were randomized to receive 200 mg/day of LJ100 or placebo for four weeks. At the end of treatment, LJ100 group showed significant improvements in stress parameters tension (-11%), anger (-12%), and confusion (-15%) compared to placebo. The stress hormone profile (salivary cortisol and testosterone) was significantly improved by LJ100, with reduced cortisol (-16%) and increased testosterone (+37%). LJ100 appears to have significant potential for restoring hormone balance (cortisol/testosterone) and improving psychological mood state in humans exposed to various modern stressors, including aging, dieting, and exercise stress.
|
Research reveals 30% of the world’s population affected by weight problems. Globally, more than 2 billion children and adults suffer from health problems related to being overweight or obese, and an increasing percentage of people die from these health conditions, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. They are dying even though they are not technically considered obese, researchers found. Of the 4 million deaths attributed to excess body weight in 2015, nearly 40% occurred among people whose body mass index (BMI) fell below the threshold considered “obese.” The findings represent “a growing and disturbing global public health crisis,” according to the authors of the paper. “People who shrug off weight gain do so at their own risk—risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, an author on the study and director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. “Those half-serious New Year’s resolutions to lose weight should become year-round commitments to lose weight and prevent future weight gain.” The study, which spans 195 countries and territories from 1980 through 2015, was released at the annual EAT Stockholm Food Forum, which aims to create a healthier, more sustainable food system. It is based on data from the most recent Global Burden of Disease study (GBD), a systematic, scientific effort to quantify the magnitude of health loss from all major diseases, injuries, and risk factors by age, sex, and population. With more than 2,300 collaborators in 133 countries, the GBD study examines 300-plus diseases and injuries. The paper includes analyses of other studies on the effects of excess weight and potential links between high BMI and cancers of the esophagus, colon, and rectum, liver, gallbladder and biliary tract, pancreas, breast, uterus, ovary, kidney, and thyroid, as well as leukemia. IHME is committed to producing more in-depth studies on the implications of obesity and overweight, including through a new partnership with the United Nations, according to Dr. Murray. He announced at the forum a new agreement between IHME and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to exchange data, knowledge, and expertise. The goal is to elevate the world’s collective understanding of what is driving “the current global epidemic of disease” related to high body weight. The United Nations “Decade of Action on Nutrition” is an initiative covering 2016–2025 to eradicate hunger, end malnutrition in all its forms (undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight or obesity), and reduce the burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases in all age groups. In 2015, excess weight affected 2.2 billion children and adults worldwide, or 30% of all people. This includes nearly 108 million children and more than 600 million adults with BMI exceeding 30, the threshold for obesity, according to the study. The prevalence of obesity has doubled since 1980 in more than 70 countries and has continuously increased in most other nations. Although the prevalence of obesity among children has been lower than among adults, the rate of increase in childhood obesity in many countries was greater than that of adults. Among the 20 most populous countries, the highest level of obesity among children and young adults was in the U.S. at nearly 13%; Egypt topped the list for adult obesity at about 35%. Lowest rates were in Bangladesh and Vietnam, respectively, at 1%. China with 15.3 million and India with 14.4 million had the highest numbers of obese children; the U.S. with 79.4 million and China with 57.3 million had the highest numbers of obese adults in 2015. “Excess body weight is one of the most challenging public health problems of our time, affecting nearly one in every three people,” said Dr. Ashkan Afshin, the paper’s lead author and an assistant professor of global health at IHME. “Over the past decade, numerous interventions have been evaluated, but very little evidence exists about their long-term effectiveness. Over the next 10 years, we will work closely with the FAO in monitoring and evaluating the progress of countries in controlling overweight and obesity. Moreover, we will share data and findings with scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders seeking evidence-based strategies to address this problem.” |
