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Weight Loss Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jack Curran Jack Curran New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 81219a

Revenue

$3.5bn

2024

$3.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

19,505

Businesses

1,341

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Weight Loss Services in the US industry analysis

Weight loss service providers confront intense competition in a highly saturated and concentrated business environment. Proprietary diet plans have existed for decades, with significant industry players established as far back as the early 1960s. Company performance is influenced by domestic population growth, favorable economic conditions and health factors (obesity rate, healthy eating index). Despite the favorable economic conditions following COVID-19, competition from substitutes has stolen consumers. Industry-wide revenue declined at a CAGR of 2.9% to $3.5 billion, falling 0.1% in 2024 alone. As a result, industry profit declined at a similar rate throughout 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • The long-lasting impacts of COVID-19 compromised performance as consumers, familiar with remote technology and communication, were exposed to substitute products and services. This shift led to a significant change in consumer behavior and industry dynamics.
  • Digital subscriptions increasingly replace in-person services due to their convenience and flexibility. Digital platforms and mobile technology offer diverse pricing options, service variety and personalized experiences, which consumers highly value. This trend reflects shifting consumer preferences.
  • California’s numerous weight loss establishments indicate a focus on weight maintenance. Despite one of the nation's lowest obesity rates, Californians purchase weight loss apps and programs primarily for help with weight tracking and overall health.
  • Dominant firms are likely to remain influential as they embrace emerging technologies such as AI, VR and telemedicine. These advancements could transform weight loss services, catering to a younger demographic that prefers virtual interactions.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Obesity rates spell health for weight loss services

  • Weight loss services benefit from the expanding proportion of individuals classified as obese. Obesity typically precipitates a higher risk of developing long-term health conditions, and weight loss programs can alleviate these health risks and promote a more sustainable lifestyle for individuals.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Weight Loss Services in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

In-person services will need to partner with remote services

  • Weight loss service providers will be challenged post-COVID-19, with a slight drop in revenue but stable profit.

Biggest companies in the Weight Loss Services in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Medifast, Inc.
948.4
128.6
13.6
Ww International, inc.
827.6
97.9
11.8
Nutri System Inc.
613.2
-8.0
-1.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Weight Loss Services in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Digital subscriptions, In-person consultation subscriptions and In-meeting product sales. Digital subscriptions is the largest segment of the Weight Loss Services in the US.

Trends and Insights

Digital subscriptions are surging, becoming the new normal

  • Digital platforms, most notably among smartphone applications, have transferred most of weight loss service provider revenue generation toward digital subscription fees. Digital subscription fees capture the most significant portion of revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Weight loss service providers offer nonmedical services to clients and assist them with losing or maintaining a desired weight. Services typically include individual or group counseling, menu and exercise planning and weight and body measurement monitoring. Industry operators may also sell food supplements and other weight-reduction products. This industry doesn't include fitness centers, health resorts and spas, or medical and surgical weight-reduction services.

What's included in this industry?

Digital subscriptionsIn-person consultation subscriptionsIn-meeting product salesE-commerce and royalties

Companies

Medifast, Inc.Ww International, inc.Nutri System Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)ALLIOBESITY

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 812191 - Weight Loss Services in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The long-lasting impacts of COVID-19 compromised performance as consumers, familiar with remote technology and communication, were exposed to substitute products and services....

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Digital subscriptions increasingly replace in-person services due to their convenience and flexibility. Digital platforms and mobile technology offer diverse pricing options,...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

California’s numerous weight loss establishments indicate a focus on weight maintenance. Despite one of the nation's lowest obesity rates, Californians purchase weight loss a...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Dominant firms are likely to remain influential as they embrace emerging technologies such as AI, VR and telemedicine. These advancements could transform weight loss services...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Weight loss services are highly concentrated, with three leading companies generating most of the industry revenue. This market structure highlights the dominance of a few ke...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Medifast, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Ww International, inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Nutri System Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Medifast, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Ww International, inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nutri System Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

COVID-19 regulations accelerated future trends. Government-mandated lockdowns altered economic conditions for individuals and increased reliance on online video communication...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Marketing plays a crucial role for companies offering niche services. Marketing budgets differ by company size and season; however, small online services targeting niche audi...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States is $3.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in 2024?

There are 1,341 businesses in the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Weight Loss Services in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Weight Loss Services market in United States are Medifast, Inc., Ww International, inc. and Nutri System Inc.

What does the Weight Loss Services in the US in United States include?

Digital subscriptions and In-person consultation subscriptions are part of the Weight Loss Services in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Weight Loss Services in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Medifast, Inc..

How competitive is the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Weight Loss Services in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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