The U.S. weight management industry is on the cusp of unprecedented growth, with spending projected to double from $90 billion in 2023 over the next decade. This expansion presents significant opportunities across various consumer-facing sectors. However, traditional research methods fall short in capturing the complexity of this rapidly evolving market. To address this, ZS employed Atlas Intelligence to analyze organic online discourse, particularly from Reddit, developing a comprehensive, consumer-centric understanding of the weight management landscape.
The study revealed that while GLP-1 medications have generated considerable buzz, they remain a small part of the ecosystem, with fewer than 5% of consumers using them for weight loss. The research identified six macro weight management motivations and six core macro jobs-to-be-done, each comprising several sub-categories. These insights form the basis of a unified Demand Landscape framework that helps identify discrete opportunities for organizations to serve consumers with products that match their distinct underlying needs and preferences.
The analysis shows that weight management needs extend beyond simply helping consumers lose weight. GLP-1 users, for instance, face challenges in balancing weight loss progress with side effects and may inadvertently inhibit key behavior changes required for long-term success. The study also highlights how choices in one intervention can impact behaviors in other categories.
This comprehensive understanding of the weight management ecosystem has significant implications for various industries, including food and beverage, consumer health and fitness. The paper provides use cases demonstrating how companies in these sectors can leverage the Demand Landscape framework to develop targeted strategies and capitalize on emerging opportunities in this expanding market.
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