By Sean Moloughney, Editor09.09.21
The U.S. weight loss market reached a record $78 billion in 2019, but suffered a 21% decline in value during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recession, according to a Research and Markets report from March 2021. Health clubs and medical weight loss programs contracted the most amid shutdowns.
For consumers facing increased stress levels and fewer opportunities to socialize and exercise as they would normally, maintaining a healthy weight has become a significant challenge.
In the U.S., 40% of people age 18-24 gained weight since the start of the pandemic, along with one third of Millennials/Gen X, and one quarter of Baby Boomers, according to the Natural Marketing Institute. Overall, the American Heart Association has estimated that 168 million people in the U.S. are overweight and 74 million are obese.
As consumers return to activities that were put on hold during lockdowns, they are ready to regain their pre-pandemic forms, experts said. Nutritional solutions that can reduce stress, boost energy levels, and help manage weight and blood sugar levels can all play a role in improving consumer health.
Dynamics of Weight
Many factors influence a person’s ability to manage weight. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach for consumers,” said Elyse Lovett, vice president of marketing, Nutrition21. “Factors like genetics, stress, sleep are a big part of one’s overall health, but diet and exercise are key to maintaining an overall healthy weight and lifestyle.”
Generally speaking, Lovett noted a shift in how some consumers talk about their weight, focusing less on the number on the scale, and instead concentrating more on overall body composition. This trend, she said, has come from “the ever-growing sports nutrition market.”
Weight management is multifaceted, noted Deshanie Rai, vice president of global scientific and regulatory affairs at OmniActive Health Technologies. “We are seeing some interesting outcomes from the COVID-19 lockdowns that have exacerbated some of those same factors such as stress, activity levels, sleep, eating behaviors, and beyond.”
Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients said a “significant culprit of weight gain” is often “an imbalance of appetite and satiety hormones—ghrelin (the appetite hormone) and leptin (the satiety hormone).”
Generally, consumers aren’t well versed in the language and function of these hormones or how they affect weight, which represents a potential opportunity for brands to educate people, Eng said.
While genetics can play a role in maintaining a healthy weight, the average American diet and “the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles does not weigh in the nation’s favor,” said Rob Brewster, president of Ingredients by Nature (IBN).
“Much of the food that is typically consumed is loaded with fats, carbs, and sugars beyond what consumers can metabolize in a regular day,” he added. “And speaking of a regular day, a little over 80% of working adults find themselves in a sedentary job, many of which will then go home and participate in activities that are also sedentary, such as watching TV or playing video games. Our society revolves around convenience, causing many of the things we do to involve less exercise and what we eat to be quick and unhealthy. It’s not quite surprising that the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults has reached 42% and continues to climb.”
Anurag Pande, vice president of scientific affairs, Sabinsa, divided the challenges affecting weight management into intrinsic factors (such as genetic makeup, age, and sex), and extrinsic factors (such as diet, physical activity, working environment, or stress). “In other words, behavioral and environmental factors,” he said.
Prolonged periods of stress, lack of sleep, and unbalanced diets can all contribute to an unhealthy gut, which can actually lead to weight gain, said Lori Lathrop Stern, science liaison, IFF Health. “Emerging research reveals a potential connection between the gut microbiota and metabolic health. In fact, excess visceral fat and an unhealthy waist-hip ratio are tell-tale signs that one’s metabolic health is struggling.”
An unhealthy gut epithelium—the barrier protecting the gut from harmful pathogens—is associated with metabolic issues like gut inflammation or inflammatory bowel disease, she continued. “When gut inflammation is present, the body doesn’t properly absorb or digest nutrients from food—potentially influencing body weight regulation. Overall, the gut plays an important role in metabolic health, which affects energy levels and waist circumference. Taking preventative actions to strengthen the gut lining and gastrointestinal tract’s barrier functions can help support weight management and enhance quality of life for years to come.”
Exercise and diet choices play a significant role in the human body’s ability to function optimally, said Sevanti Mehta, president of Unibar Corporation. “A lack of appropriate exercise and insufficient consumption of essential nutrients paired with overeating of sugars, trans fats, saturated fats, and artificial ingredients lead to a disrupted metabolism and unhealthy weight gain,” he said. “A study published in August by JAMA found that American youths have increased their consumption of ultra-processed foods over the last two decades, while, conversely, they are consuming less unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Unhealthy foods comprise a majority of their total calorie intake (67%) and that is contributing to a rising rate of obesity among minors.”
While multiple factors, often entangled together, can influence weight, according to Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, business development director, TriNutra, ultimately, the way people live, move, and eat has the greatest impact. “It has become normal to eat larger meals, with fast food often being the preferred choice at least once per day to help manage a lifestyle that is constantly busy and on the go. This lifestyle also brings lots of stress to go with it, leaving very little time to relax and recuperate. On the other end of the spectrum, there are the under-privileged parts of society who endure high levels of stress from food, work, and housing insecurity and regularly consume cheap, unhealthy food due, in part, to the high expense of fresh foods.”
Vast Health Repercussions
Weight management likely represents “the single most important and effective thing that people can do—at any point in their lives—to age more healthfully,” according to Steve Fink, vice president of marketing, PLT Health Solutions. “The evidence of the huge health consequences associated with an overweight/obese population is overwhelming. An unhealthy weight is the underlying or contributing cause to any number of chronic health conditions present in later years such as CVD and can exacerbate others like joint health.”
Healthy weight management is much more than just losing unwanted pounds, Fink added. “As important as weight loss is to many consumers, they know that healthy and sustainable changes to body weight must involve supporting other related systems, like cardiovascular and metabolic health.”
Eng agreed that being overweight for the long-term “has insidious impact on cardiovascular health, blood sugar response/insulin sensitivity, and on joints. It is a causative factor in the development of disease and the increased risk of onset of those diseases.”
Body weight can impact physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as increase risk of certain diseases, said Rai. “The National Cancer Institute reports that obesity is associated with a higher risk of certain types of cancers such as that of breast, prostate, and kidney. It has also been linked to Type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, sleep apnea, depression, and overall has been shown to lower life expectancy.”
Being overweight or obese is known to exacerbate underlying health conditions, said Lovett. “To make matters worse, the lockdowns resulting from the global pandemic accelerated weight management issues for millions of people.
Many used food as a coping mechanism for the stress COVID rained down on all of us.” According to the American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress In America” report (April, 2021), the vast majority of Americans said COVID-19 is a significant stressor for them, with more than 40% saying they’ve gained undesired weight since the start of the pandemic.
Along with increased risk for many health issues, excessive weight ultimately lowers quality of life, said Brewster. “The immune system is debilitated, blood sugar increases to unhealthy and eventually irreparable levels, the heart and cardiovascular system suffer, and even bones and joints are weakened and potentially break down. Beyond that, an unhealthy weight can lead to increased stress and psychological challenges.”
As blood sugar levels increase to unhealthy levels, they cause their own cycle of health issues, he added, “as imbalances develop within the inflammatory and antioxidant responses, resulting in further debilitation of the same issues that often arise from being overweight.”
Excess weight affects almost every aspect of the body, from respiratory to reproductive, from memory to mood, said Pande. “Being overweight or obese (BMI > 30) can have higher risk of debilitating and deadly diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and some cancers. Obesity not only decreases quality of life but also adds to global healthcare costs.”
Since 2008, the adult obesity rate has increased by 26% while rates of childhood obesity are also climbing, having reached 19%, said Mehta. “While unhealthy weight is dangerous at any age, for children to experience the health risks that come with obesity at an early age increases their risk of serious complications as they reach adulthood. We are seeing the early onset of hypertension, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar, each of which come with their own range of health problems that only get worse if not addressed promptly and effectively.”
Beyond physical issues, he also noted concern about mental health associated with being overweight. “It is all too easy to lose self-confidence and self-esteem, especially when society at large often looks down upon people who have trouble managing their weight. This can be seen even more heavily among youths and children who may be bullied. An increase in stress is very likely; one study correlated that obese persons had a 55% increased risk of developing depression over time. And unfortunately, depressed persons are also at increased risk of becoming obese, meaning that for those who are suffering from depression and obesity, it makes it even more difficult to improve their circumstances.”
Role for Nutritional Products
There are several ways in which nutritional products can “augment the return to a healthy diet and exercise regimen,” according to Eng, but it’s important to remember that dietary supplements alone are not a singular solution for being overweight, and should be part of a broader, more complete lifestyle approach.
“One way is to support the balance of ghrelin and leptin to manage a healthy appetite-satiety response,” she said. “Another is to help promote energy production via activating the enzyme AMPK, which allows for increased calorie burning through longer workouts.”
Supplements have always been more of an “adjunct player in the weight loss game and a tool that can work in conjunction with other approaches like dietary management and regular exercise,” said Lovett. “The products that have been able to weather the storms of this market over the years are based on strong science showing efficacy and safety. The key in formulation in weight management and body composition is finding ingredients that have true, science-backed claims in the right populations and not just tout claims with no efficacy and safety data.”
According to Lathrop Stern, “From probiotics for gut barrier support to fenugreek fiber for digestion—holistic nutritional products can boost gut and metabolic health to help control fat mass and increase satiety. This not only helps consumers manage weight, but also allows them to feel their best by decreasing digestive discomfort and increasing energy levels.”
While supplements can help improve health, consumers also need to develop better habits, said Brewster. “Our ingredient, Eriomin, for example, has been clinically shown to help reduce blood sugar levels which can jump-start efforts to live a healthier life. By reducing blood sugar levels to a healthier range, this will hopefully motivate the overweight individual to make other improvements through diet and exercise because they have more energy and are feeling better than they have previously. Supplements and other nutritional products can make these efforts more accessible, and I believe it is our responsibility to help consumers to become aware of the opportunity they have to improve their lives by taking a multi-faceted approach to better health.”
Indeed, the use of dietary supplement and nutritional products can help motivate people to live a healthier lifestyle, according to von Oppen-Bezalel. “There is no magic solution by only using dietary supplements. They must be combined with exercise, stress reduction, and a healthier diet to experience their full potential. Dietary supplements and nutritional products can also help mitigate some of the undesirable outcomes of improved mitochondrial function and added exercise (e.g., free radicals, fat metabolites) by quenching reactive oxygen species and supporting the liver and kidneys’ efforts to metabolize and remove fats and toxins.”
According to Pande, dietary supplements can help dampen some of the effects of unhealthy lifestyles. “High-calorie processed foods lacking essential nutrients has thrown the balance off and has led to the problem of being overfed and undernourished. Dietary supplements can not only provide the nutrients which are inadequate in a calorie-rich diet but are also beneficial in stimulating weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing metabolism and thermogenesis.”
Rai emphasized the effect that lockdowns have had on the body weight of many consumers over the course of the pandemic. “In a recent global study involving 8,000 people from over 50 countries, participants were surveyed on their weight gain and feelings of anxiety, and asked to provide their responses in the context of before and since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The results of this survey yielded some interesting insights on the link between the lockdowns, stress and weight gain.”
For example, more than a quarter gained weight. The sample included individuals who were normal weight (32.2%), overweight (32.1%), and had obesity (34.0%); weight gain was reported in over 27% of all those who participated in the study. Those with obesity were most affected; more than 33% of those who were already obese gained weight. Additionally, anxiety scores increased among the participants during the pandemic with a significantly greater increase in those who were obese.
“Like the lockdowns themselves, a striking reality has set in with the severity of COVID-related symptoms, reminding us that maintaining a healthy weight is closely linked to overall health and well-being,” said Rai. “In fact, Obesity Reviews just published a meta-analysis that found those individuals who contracted SARS-CoV-2 and were obese were 113% more likely to end up in the hospital than those with a healthy weight. Moreover, they were 74% more likely to be admitted to the ICU, and 48% more likely to die.”
These findings and insights reiterate that weight management is a multipronged approach involving dietary habits, physical activity, and stress, she added. “The good news is there are clinically backed solutions to address some of the challenges consumers face in their quest for successful weight management.”
Fink noted that healthier eating and exercise is always going to be the foundation of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. “But there is an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ need in our society and supplements can play an important role. We can’t afford to wait. There don’t appear to be any panaceas in weight management, but there are many, many things we can do to ‘get better every day.’ Proper use of supplements that have proven efficacy can be an important one of these.”
Still, obesity is a major health epidemic in the U.S. and is increasing around the globe, noted Lathrop Stern. “As strict regulations on weight-loss supplements emerge in various countries, it’s critical that supplement manufacturers source high-quality products that have been tested in clinical trials.”
Consumer & Product Trends
According to data from the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) 2021 Food & Health Survey, 39% of consumers reported following a diet or eating pattern in the last year. Calorie counting was their preferred approach.
“While consumers remain conflicted as to which sources of calories are most likely to cause weight gain, nearly a quarter blame sugar (22%), noted Andrew Ohmes, global product line manager for high intensity sweeteners, Cargill. “Far more, 72%, say they are trying to limit or avoid sugars in their diet, results that align with our proprietary consumer research. Our annual survey determined sugar is most top of mind when consumers are asked which ingredients they try to avoid, mentioned more often than fats, sodium, and GMOs.”
At the same time, consumers continue to move away from artificial sweeteners, he added. “Almost two-thirds of global consumers (61%) say no artificial sweeteners is an extremely or very important statement on food and beverage labels. Nearly a third (30%) say they’d pay more for products made without them.”
While consumers may be avoiding sugar and artificial sweeteners, they still expect reduced-sugar foods and beverages to taste good. “That’s why zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia continue to make significant gains,” said Ohmes. “Dramatic improvements to next-generation stevia products, combined with consumers’ greater familiarity with the ingredient, have opened the door to a new wave of reduced-sugar formulations.”
Even amid the pandemic, Cargill continued to see strong growth in 2020, according to Ohmes. “Product launches containing stevia reached more than 7,400 new food and beverages globally, up 8.7% over the previous year, according to Innova Market Insights data.”
As science reveals ingredient benefits that cater to multiple consumer needs, Mehta noted a blurring of lines between certain categories. “COVID-19 has reinforced the need for improved immune health and how immune health benefits can affect other areas such as beauty or athletic performance,” he said. “Similarly, the active nutrition market is seeing increased attention from consumers who are looking to both improve their exercise performance and also manage their weight.”
A lack of energy is a sizable obstacle to overcome among those struggling with weight, Mehta noted. “Fortunately, particular ingredients like capsaicin are able to meet the needs of these consumers by delivering the dual benefits of increased energy expenditure and fat burning. I expect we will see weight management products over the next few years that will be developed with the intent to bring other categories together to encourage the idea that weight management isn’t complete without taking care of other aspects of health as well.”
Research continues to link certain probiotic strains to weight management benefits, according to Lathrop Stern, “further revealing their benefits beyond gut health. Scientific studies continue to demonstrate that ingestion of specific strains of friendly bacteria enhances several physiological functions, particularly the body’s natural defense system and intestinal well-being. In the near future, probiotics and botanicals will continue helping consumers increase their chances of successful weight management, while maintaining a regular lifestyle.”
Brands and consumers are emphasizing the need for ingredients that are clinically studied and proven among targeted populations, said von Oppen-Bezalel. “In the past, there have been too many unsubstantiated claims coming from weight loss products, causing many consumers to lose trust in the category. By presenting clinical research surrounding an ingredient ... consumers will be much more likely to purchase the product for themselves.”
Sean Moloughney has been the Editor of Nutraceuticals World since 2012. He can be reached at SMoloughney@RodmanMedia.com.
For consumers facing increased stress levels and fewer opportunities to socialize and exercise as they would normally, maintaining a healthy weight has become a significant challenge.
In the U.S., 40% of people age 18-24 gained weight since the start of the pandemic, along with one third of Millennials/Gen X, and one quarter of Baby Boomers, according to the Natural Marketing Institute. Overall, the American Heart Association has estimated that 168 million people in the U.S. are overweight and 74 million are obese.
As consumers return to activities that were put on hold during lockdowns, they are ready to regain their pre-pandemic forms, experts said. Nutritional solutions that can reduce stress, boost energy levels, and help manage weight and blood sugar levels can all play a role in improving consumer health.
Dynamics of Weight
Many factors influence a person’s ability to manage weight. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach for consumers,” said Elyse Lovett, vice president of marketing, Nutrition21. “Factors like genetics, stress, sleep are a big part of one’s overall health, but diet and exercise are key to maintaining an overall healthy weight and lifestyle.”
Generally speaking, Lovett noted a shift in how some consumers talk about their weight, focusing less on the number on the scale, and instead concentrating more on overall body composition. This trend, she said, has come from “the ever-growing sports nutrition market.”
Weight management is multifaceted, noted Deshanie Rai, vice president of global scientific and regulatory affairs at OmniActive Health Technologies. “We are seeing some interesting outcomes from the COVID-19 lockdowns that have exacerbated some of those same factors such as stress, activity levels, sleep, eating behaviors, and beyond.”
Annie Eng, CEO, HP Ingredients said a “significant culprit of weight gain” is often “an imbalance of appetite and satiety hormones—ghrelin (the appetite hormone) and leptin (the satiety hormone).”
Generally, consumers aren’t well versed in the language and function of these hormones or how they affect weight, which represents a potential opportunity for brands to educate people, Eng said.
While genetics can play a role in maintaining a healthy weight, the average American diet and “the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles does not weigh in the nation’s favor,” said Rob Brewster, president of Ingredients by Nature (IBN).
“Much of the food that is typically consumed is loaded with fats, carbs, and sugars beyond what consumers can metabolize in a regular day,” he added. “And speaking of a regular day, a little over 80% of working adults find themselves in a sedentary job, many of which will then go home and participate in activities that are also sedentary, such as watching TV or playing video games. Our society revolves around convenience, causing many of the things we do to involve less exercise and what we eat to be quick and unhealthy. It’s not quite surprising that the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults has reached 42% and continues to climb.”
Anurag Pande, vice president of scientific affairs, Sabinsa, divided the challenges affecting weight management into intrinsic factors (such as genetic makeup, age, and sex), and extrinsic factors (such as diet, physical activity, working environment, or stress). “In other words, behavioral and environmental factors,” he said.
Prolonged periods of stress, lack of sleep, and unbalanced diets can all contribute to an unhealthy gut, which can actually lead to weight gain, said Lori Lathrop Stern, science liaison, IFF Health. “Emerging research reveals a potential connection between the gut microbiota and metabolic health. In fact, excess visceral fat and an unhealthy waist-hip ratio are tell-tale signs that one’s metabolic health is struggling.”
An unhealthy gut epithelium—the barrier protecting the gut from harmful pathogens—is associated with metabolic issues like gut inflammation or inflammatory bowel disease, she continued. “When gut inflammation is present, the body doesn’t properly absorb or digest nutrients from food—potentially influencing body weight regulation. Overall, the gut plays an important role in metabolic health, which affects energy levels and waist circumference. Taking preventative actions to strengthen the gut lining and gastrointestinal tract’s barrier functions can help support weight management and enhance quality of life for years to come.”
Exercise and diet choices play a significant role in the human body’s ability to function optimally, said Sevanti Mehta, president of Unibar Corporation. “A lack of appropriate exercise and insufficient consumption of essential nutrients paired with overeating of sugars, trans fats, saturated fats, and artificial ingredients lead to a disrupted metabolism and unhealthy weight gain,” he said. “A study published in August by JAMA found that American youths have increased their consumption of ultra-processed foods over the last two decades, while, conversely, they are consuming less unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Unhealthy foods comprise a majority of their total calorie intake (67%) and that is contributing to a rising rate of obesity among minors.”
While multiple factors, often entangled together, can influence weight, according to Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, business development director, TriNutra, ultimately, the way people live, move, and eat has the greatest impact. “It has become normal to eat larger meals, with fast food often being the preferred choice at least once per day to help manage a lifestyle that is constantly busy and on the go. This lifestyle also brings lots of stress to go with it, leaving very little time to relax and recuperate. On the other end of the spectrum, there are the under-privileged parts of society who endure high levels of stress from food, work, and housing insecurity and regularly consume cheap, unhealthy food due, in part, to the high expense of fresh foods.”
[Related Reading: Weight Management Solutions: Ingredient & Formulation Spotlight]
Vast Health Repercussions
Weight management likely represents “the single most important and effective thing that people can do—at any point in their lives—to age more healthfully,” according to Steve Fink, vice president of marketing, PLT Health Solutions. “The evidence of the huge health consequences associated with an overweight/obese population is overwhelming. An unhealthy weight is the underlying or contributing cause to any number of chronic health conditions present in later years such as CVD and can exacerbate others like joint health.”
Healthy weight management is much more than just losing unwanted pounds, Fink added. “As important as weight loss is to many consumers, they know that healthy and sustainable changes to body weight must involve supporting other related systems, like cardiovascular and metabolic health.”
Eng agreed that being overweight for the long-term “has insidious impact on cardiovascular health, blood sugar response/insulin sensitivity, and on joints. It is a causative factor in the development of disease and the increased risk of onset of those diseases.”
Body weight can impact physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as increase risk of certain diseases, said Rai. “The National Cancer Institute reports that obesity is associated with a higher risk of certain types of cancers such as that of breast, prostate, and kidney. It has also been linked to Type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, sleep apnea, depression, and overall has been shown to lower life expectancy.”
Being overweight or obese is known to exacerbate underlying health conditions, said Lovett. “To make matters worse, the lockdowns resulting from the global pandemic accelerated weight management issues for millions of people.
Many used food as a coping mechanism for the stress COVID rained down on all of us.” According to the American Psychological Association’s annual “Stress In America” report (April, 2021), the vast majority of Americans said COVID-19 is a significant stressor for them, with more than 40% saying they’ve gained undesired weight since the start of the pandemic.
Along with increased risk for many health issues, excessive weight ultimately lowers quality of life, said Brewster. “The immune system is debilitated, blood sugar increases to unhealthy and eventually irreparable levels, the heart and cardiovascular system suffer, and even bones and joints are weakened and potentially break down. Beyond that, an unhealthy weight can lead to increased stress and psychological challenges.”
As blood sugar levels increase to unhealthy levels, they cause their own cycle of health issues, he added, “as imbalances develop within the inflammatory and antioxidant responses, resulting in further debilitation of the same issues that often arise from being overweight.”
Excess weight affects almost every aspect of the body, from respiratory to reproductive, from memory to mood, said Pande. “Being overweight or obese (BMI > 30) can have higher risk of debilitating and deadly diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, stroke, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and some cancers. Obesity not only decreases quality of life but also adds to global healthcare costs.”
Since 2008, the adult obesity rate has increased by 26% while rates of childhood obesity are also climbing, having reached 19%, said Mehta. “While unhealthy weight is dangerous at any age, for children to experience the health risks that come with obesity at an early age increases their risk of serious complications as they reach adulthood. We are seeing the early onset of hypertension, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar, each of which come with their own range of health problems that only get worse if not addressed promptly and effectively.”
Beyond physical issues, he also noted concern about mental health associated with being overweight. “It is all too easy to lose self-confidence and self-esteem, especially when society at large often looks down upon people who have trouble managing their weight. This can be seen even more heavily among youths and children who may be bullied. An increase in stress is very likely; one study correlated that obese persons had a 55% increased risk of developing depression over time. And unfortunately, depressed persons are also at increased risk of becoming obese, meaning that for those who are suffering from depression and obesity, it makes it even more difficult to improve their circumstances.”
Role for Nutritional Products
There are several ways in which nutritional products can “augment the return to a healthy diet and exercise regimen,” according to Eng, but it’s important to remember that dietary supplements alone are not a singular solution for being overweight, and should be part of a broader, more complete lifestyle approach.
“One way is to support the balance of ghrelin and leptin to manage a healthy appetite-satiety response,” she said. “Another is to help promote energy production via activating the enzyme AMPK, which allows for increased calorie burning through longer workouts.”
Supplements have always been more of an “adjunct player in the weight loss game and a tool that can work in conjunction with other approaches like dietary management and regular exercise,” said Lovett. “The products that have been able to weather the storms of this market over the years are based on strong science showing efficacy and safety. The key in formulation in weight management and body composition is finding ingredients that have true, science-backed claims in the right populations and not just tout claims with no efficacy and safety data.”
According to Lathrop Stern, “From probiotics for gut barrier support to fenugreek fiber for digestion—holistic nutritional products can boost gut and metabolic health to help control fat mass and increase satiety. This not only helps consumers manage weight, but also allows them to feel their best by decreasing digestive discomfort and increasing energy levels.”
While supplements can help improve health, consumers also need to develop better habits, said Brewster. “Our ingredient, Eriomin, for example, has been clinically shown to help reduce blood sugar levels which can jump-start efforts to live a healthier life. By reducing blood sugar levels to a healthier range, this will hopefully motivate the overweight individual to make other improvements through diet and exercise because they have more energy and are feeling better than they have previously. Supplements and other nutritional products can make these efforts more accessible, and I believe it is our responsibility to help consumers to become aware of the opportunity they have to improve their lives by taking a multi-faceted approach to better health.”
Indeed, the use of dietary supplement and nutritional products can help motivate people to live a healthier lifestyle, according to von Oppen-Bezalel. “There is no magic solution by only using dietary supplements. They must be combined with exercise, stress reduction, and a healthier diet to experience their full potential. Dietary supplements and nutritional products can also help mitigate some of the undesirable outcomes of improved mitochondrial function and added exercise (e.g., free radicals, fat metabolites) by quenching reactive oxygen species and supporting the liver and kidneys’ efforts to metabolize and remove fats and toxins.”
According to Pande, dietary supplements can help dampen some of the effects of unhealthy lifestyles. “High-calorie processed foods lacking essential nutrients has thrown the balance off and has led to the problem of being overfed and undernourished. Dietary supplements can not only provide the nutrients which are inadequate in a calorie-rich diet but are also beneficial in stimulating weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing metabolism and thermogenesis.”
Rai emphasized the effect that lockdowns have had on the body weight of many consumers over the course of the pandemic. “In a recent global study involving 8,000 people from over 50 countries, participants were surveyed on their weight gain and feelings of anxiety, and asked to provide their responses in the context of before and since the COVID-19 pandemic started. The results of this survey yielded some interesting insights on the link between the lockdowns, stress and weight gain.”
For example, more than a quarter gained weight. The sample included individuals who were normal weight (32.2%), overweight (32.1%), and had obesity (34.0%); weight gain was reported in over 27% of all those who participated in the study. Those with obesity were most affected; more than 33% of those who were already obese gained weight. Additionally, anxiety scores increased among the participants during the pandemic with a significantly greater increase in those who were obese.
“Like the lockdowns themselves, a striking reality has set in with the severity of COVID-related symptoms, reminding us that maintaining a healthy weight is closely linked to overall health and well-being,” said Rai. “In fact, Obesity Reviews just published a meta-analysis that found those individuals who contracted SARS-CoV-2 and were obese were 113% more likely to end up in the hospital than those with a healthy weight. Moreover, they were 74% more likely to be admitted to the ICU, and 48% more likely to die.”
These findings and insights reiterate that weight management is a multipronged approach involving dietary habits, physical activity, and stress, she added. “The good news is there are clinically backed solutions to address some of the challenges consumers face in their quest for successful weight management.”
Fink noted that healthier eating and exercise is always going to be the foundation of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. “But there is an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ need in our society and supplements can play an important role. We can’t afford to wait. There don’t appear to be any panaceas in weight management, but there are many, many things we can do to ‘get better every day.’ Proper use of supplements that have proven efficacy can be an important one of these.”
Still, obesity is a major health epidemic in the U.S. and is increasing around the globe, noted Lathrop Stern. “As strict regulations on weight-loss supplements emerge in various countries, it’s critical that supplement manufacturers source high-quality products that have been tested in clinical trials.”
Consumer & Product Trends
According to data from the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) 2021 Food & Health Survey, 39% of consumers reported following a diet or eating pattern in the last year. Calorie counting was their preferred approach.
“While consumers remain conflicted as to which sources of calories are most likely to cause weight gain, nearly a quarter blame sugar (22%), noted Andrew Ohmes, global product line manager for high intensity sweeteners, Cargill. “Far more, 72%, say they are trying to limit or avoid sugars in their diet, results that align with our proprietary consumer research. Our annual survey determined sugar is most top of mind when consumers are asked which ingredients they try to avoid, mentioned more often than fats, sodium, and GMOs.”
At the same time, consumers continue to move away from artificial sweeteners, he added. “Almost two-thirds of global consumers (61%) say no artificial sweeteners is an extremely or very important statement on food and beverage labels. Nearly a third (30%) say they’d pay more for products made without them.”
While consumers may be avoiding sugar and artificial sweeteners, they still expect reduced-sugar foods and beverages to taste good. “That’s why zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia continue to make significant gains,” said Ohmes. “Dramatic improvements to next-generation stevia products, combined with consumers’ greater familiarity with the ingredient, have opened the door to a new wave of reduced-sugar formulations.”
Even amid the pandemic, Cargill continued to see strong growth in 2020, according to Ohmes. “Product launches containing stevia reached more than 7,400 new food and beverages globally, up 8.7% over the previous year, according to Innova Market Insights data.”
As science reveals ingredient benefits that cater to multiple consumer needs, Mehta noted a blurring of lines between certain categories. “COVID-19 has reinforced the need for improved immune health and how immune health benefits can affect other areas such as beauty or athletic performance,” he said. “Similarly, the active nutrition market is seeing increased attention from consumers who are looking to both improve their exercise performance and also manage their weight.”
A lack of energy is a sizable obstacle to overcome among those struggling with weight, Mehta noted. “Fortunately, particular ingredients like capsaicin are able to meet the needs of these consumers by delivering the dual benefits of increased energy expenditure and fat burning. I expect we will see weight management products over the next few years that will be developed with the intent to bring other categories together to encourage the idea that weight management isn’t complete without taking care of other aspects of health as well.”
Research continues to link certain probiotic strains to weight management benefits, according to Lathrop Stern, “further revealing their benefits beyond gut health. Scientific studies continue to demonstrate that ingestion of specific strains of friendly bacteria enhances several physiological functions, particularly the body’s natural defense system and intestinal well-being. In the near future, probiotics and botanicals will continue helping consumers increase their chances of successful weight management, while maintaining a regular lifestyle.”
Brands and consumers are emphasizing the need for ingredients that are clinically studied and proven among targeted populations, said von Oppen-Bezalel. “In the past, there have been too many unsubstantiated claims coming from weight loss products, causing many consumers to lose trust in the category. By presenting clinical research surrounding an ingredient ... consumers will be much more likely to purchase the product for themselves.”
[Related Reading: Weight Management Solutions: Ingredient & Formulation Spotlight]
Sean Moloughney has been the Editor of Nutraceuticals World since 2012. He can be reached at SMoloughney@RodmanMedia.com.
