Survey Finds Low Carb Diet Trend Fading Fast
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Added: 11/04/2004
Type: Summary
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Survey Finds Low Carb Diet Trend Fading Fast
Tampa, FL November 4, 2004 -- Analysts at BestDietForMe.com, a Free online diet analysis service for dieters to find their best personal diet plan, have just released the findings of a new national survey of 3,640 dieters. Findings reflect responses of consumers visiting the website from April 1st to September 30, 2004.
“Apparently, consumers today don’t want to spend much on a weight loss program, and they want to do it from home. This bodes well for inexpensive programs that one can access 24/7, such as diet websites, phone counseling, diet infomercials, and publishers of diet books. However, it will be more challenging to get people to visit “bricks & mortar” weight loss clinics, hospitals, their physician or healthcare professionals such as dietitians.”, according to John LaRosa, Research Director.
BestDietForMe.com forecasts that the 2005 “diet season” will be one characterized by the highest level of dieter confusion and price sensitivity ever. Dieters are clearly indicating their preference to “cocoon” themselves and figure out how to lose weight on their own. But, it’s not working. This represents an interesting paradox, since this trend is taking place while the government and healthcare community push for more medical weight loss approaches (gastric bypass surgery, prescription appetite suppressant diet drugs like Meridia, Phentermine, and Xenical).
“Some of these findings surprised us,” said John LaRosa, www.BestDietForMe.com Research Director. “The fact that nearly 25% of consumers looking for weight loss programs have a BMI of 35 or higher and are possible candidates for bariatric surgery is higher than we expected. And, nearly half of consumers out there are obese—not just overweight. That reveals just how serious the U.S. obesity epidemic is. ”
Major findings:
• BMI… 48.7% of consumers looking to lose weight had a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher, indicating they are obese. 24.7% of consumers had a BMI of 35 or more, meaning they may be candidates for bariatric surgery. The remaining 26.6% were overweight, but not obese.
• Dieters’ Budgets… An overwhelming 91.9% of consumers want to spend less than $500 on weight loss programs. Another 5.6% are willing to spend $500-1,500, and just 2.4% will spend $1,500 or more.
• Preferred Location of Weight Loss Programs… 80.6% of dieting consumers favor a “do-it-yourself” quick weight loss diet they can access from home (online or by phone), or want to use a diet book bestseller or celebrity diet plan (fad diets). This is a higher share than previously estimated by consumer magazines and trade groups (70%).
• Preferred Food Plan… 59.2% of dieters prefer a healthy diet of supermarket food in their diet plan, while 7.5% want pre-packaged or diet company food. Another 3% want a meal replacement product (shakes, bars), and 2% favor modified liquid diets. 28.3% have no food preference.
In the 2004-2005 diet season, dieters now have an unbiased diet analysis tool to find the diet programs (by company name) best suited to their needs—from their home 24/7. A database of 50+ of the most legitimate and popular diets is searched after the consumer fills out an easy but in-depth 5-8 minute survey online. It covers one’s budget, nutritional profile, exercise habits, and lifestyle/psychological factors. Best of all, there is NO cost.
Consumers can also get in-depth diet program reports (how they work, true costs, address, website, and commentary) from BestDietForMe.com analysts). Dieters also have access to special offers by weight loss providers. The website also contains lots of unique, free content, about weight loss counselors, diet pills, IRS deductions for diet plans, eating disorders, etc.
ALL the top diet plans are covered: the Atkins diet, The Zone diet, Richard Simmons, Dr. Phil diet, Weight Watchers, Curves for Women, Bally Total Fitness, YMCA, the South Beach Diet, Medifast, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, Novartis, fad diets, and more.
About BestDietForMe.com--Marketdata
www.BestDietForMe.com is operated by Marketdata Enterprises, Inc., an independent market research analyst of the U.S. weight loss industry and other service industries since 1989. The website was developed by Marketdata, along with a nationally known registered dietitian and a PhD psychologist, and was not backed or funded by any diet companies. The website also supports breast cancer research. Marketdata’s diet market research is regularly quoted by all major media.
CONTACT INFORMATION
John LaRosa, Research Director
BestDietForMe.com/Marketdata Enterprises Inc.
813-931-3900
www.BestDietForMe.com
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