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The multifaceted causes and effects of being overweight continue to challenge consumers. But there are also many advanced solutions.
September 9, 2021
By: Sean Moloughney
Editor
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.”
[Related Reading: Weight Management Solutions: Ingredient & Formulation Spotlight]
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