The Diet Market: Our Specialty - For 20 Years!

These market reports contain analyses, forecasts, and custom surveys not available elsewhere.

We also look at the non-traditional retail segments and channels that are not tracked yet account for billions in sales: infomercials, multi-level marketing companies, mail order, and Internet sales.

Marketdata is the ONLY market research firm to regularly track ALL 9 Segments of the U.S. weight loss industry: commercial chains like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig, medical weight loss programs based in hospitals, clinics, and MD offices, diet drugs, diet soft drinks, diet foods/entrees, diet books, exercise videos, artificial sweeteners, diet plans offered by health clubs, and meal replacements like Slim-Fast, OTC diet pills and appetite suppressants, weight loss surgeries, dieter demographics, franchising, "cyberdieting" (web-based diet companies/programs,) and more.

We know the most about this market because we were the first to analyze and define this huge market in 1989. Our market research material was used as background for 1990 Congressional hearings and has been quoted extensively in all national periodicals.  We speak to reporters, writers and analysts every week of the year, and have more "inside" contacts than anyone. That’s how we’re able to obtain hard-to-find information via phone interviews, company press releases, etc. Most competitors in this market are private firms, with no annual reports, 10Ks or financial press releases. Incredibly, there is NO national weight loss trade association, annual convention, or trade journal covering the industry!

New Consumer Guide

#FS35

How To Start & Run A Profitable Weight Loss Business

September 2009 Pages: 175 Price: $99

Simply The Most Detailed Blueprint Ever Written For Running A Successful Weight Loss Business !

Many people want to get into the $59 billion U.S. weight loss business. But how? And what kind of business to start? How much will it cost, and which ventures will be most likely to succeed? How can you avoid the mistakes others in this business have made? Do you have the qualities and background to make it in weight loss?

This groundbreaking new guide by Marketdata covers it all, from soup to nuts. Written by Marketdata’s President, John LaRosa, MBA, a weight loss industry consultant with 20+ years experience tracking and analyzing the diet market, interviewing its top management, and objectively viewing the industry’s problems, fads, successes and failures—through past recessions and growth periods.

Written in an easy to read style, with commentary by John LaRosa, key recommendations, names, websites and phone numbers of companies to help you, and much more. Backed up by information from market research studies, government agencies, franchising groups, and owner/managers. Includes an outlook and forecast for specific segments of the diet market to 2012.

The Guide covers, in detail:
    -Capital and time required for each type of business
    -Case studies of specific diet companies
    -Typical income statements, likely profits/earnings, start-up costs
    -Dirty secrets about the inner workings of ad networks and affiliate programs.

Chapters (see Table of contents for more details)

• Do You Have What It Takes To Survive In This Business?

• Poor Management – The Single Biggest Cause of Failure

• The Importance of Advertising

• Multiple Channels of Distribution – Your Best Insurance Policy

• Brick & Mortar Commercial Weight Loss Centers

• Weight Loss Franchising: The advantages and drawbacks

• If You’re A Physician: Adding Weight Loss To Your Practice

• Multi-level Marketing: A Reality Check on Independent Distributors

• If You’re a Nutritionist or Dietitian

• Diet Websites: Setting one up from scratch, with an e-commerce store

• Writing a Diet Book – Your Ticket To Fame?

• Diet Food Home Delivery Services

• Reference Directory of Weight Loss Information Sources

 

Why waste tens of thousands of dollars or more, and lots of time in the wrong weight loss venture?  Get this Guide first.

Show it to your attorney or financial backer or partner.

It’s ALL here in one place.

 

Table of contents

 

Sample Chapter

 

 

Services & Market Research Reports Available...

 

The U.S. Weight Loss & Diet Control Market (February 2009) - a 392 pp. market research study that’s the "bible" for this market (Price: $2,195, also sold by individual chapters. Call for flier/prices) --10th Edition. Historical data to mid-1980s. Covers all nine weight loss market segments. In-depth competitor profiles with historical revenues.

The U.S. Weight Loss & Diet Control Market (10th Edition)

Report # FS22                                ---  20th Anniversary Edition ---

$2,195, February 2009, 392 pages, 150 Tables & Charts, 31 Competitor Profiles

This is a completely revised and updated analysis of of Marketdata’s best-selling biennial study about the $58.6 billion U.S. weight loss market. This is the most comprehensive investigation of the U.S. weight loss market published by anyone worldwide, covering… dollar value & growth rates of 9 major weight loss market segments (early 1980s to 2008, 2009 and 2012 forecasts), latest market trends and developments, status reports for: diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, health clubs, commercial diet center chains, mail order and multi-level marketing diet plans, diet books and exercise videos, diet websites, diet food home delivery services, medically supervised programs (weight loss surgery, MDs, RDs, and nutritionist-based diet plans, hospitals/clinic programs, Rx diet drugs, bariatrician plans), retail meal replacements and diet pills, low-calorie entrees and low-carb foods.

Also included: Top 30 competitors ranking, 20-year revenue history of the market through past recessions, comprehensive dieter demographics, diet center franchising, and commercial centers operating ratios.

Rankings/revenues of top 8 commercial chains, brand sales, and a Reference Directory of industry sources. New: results of recent surveys by the Calorie Control Council, Nutrition Business Journal, plus 110 dieter metrics/preferences from BestDietForMe.com online surveys.

Contains 31 in-depth updated competitor profiles with 2008 financials for: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, NutriSystem, eDiets.com, LA Weight Loss, Herbalife, Slim-Fast, Diet Center, Physicians Weight Loss, HMR, Optifast, Medifast, Lindora Clinics, Ballys, Curves, Atkins Nutritionals, and many more.

Based on extensive primary & secondary research, management phone interviews, UFOCs and other documents.

Study available in print or digital format.

(Also sold by individual chapters)

 

The U.S. Diet Food Home Delivery Market (February 2009) - a 146 pp. market research study covering this  niche market  Price: $995

Report  #FS32

February 2009, 146 pages, 48 Tables & charts

This new Marketdata study examines the $1 billion diet food home delivery or “home meal replacement” market in the U.S.  This is a niche segment of the overall weight loss market appealing to the most affluent dieters, that has grown rapidly and attracted new competitors.

Roughly 30 companies compete, and the number is growing. Some ship food nationwide while others provide fresh daily delivery to local markets such as New York City and Los Angeles.

This market study covers: nature/structure of the market, key demand factors, pricing, distribution & franchising, how companies are formed and operate, profitability/expense ratios, customer demographics, market size (2005-2008, 2009 & 2012 forecasts, management outlooks and opinions of market growth and the competition.

Also Included: Complete Status Report of the Total Weight Loss Market, with outlooks for commercial, medical and retail programs, 2009 & 2012 forecasts, latest dieter trends, major market developments of 2008, 2008 financials for the public diet companies, effects of the recession, ranking of top weight loss companies, 1989-2012 market size/growth history.

29 Competitor Profiles for: NutriSystem, Jenny Direct (Jenny Craig), Medifast, eDiets Meal Delivery, 5 Squares, 3 Hour Diet At Home, Bistro MD, Chefs Diet, Diet To Go, Sunfare, Club Gourmet, Diet Delivery/TSG Group (Canadian), Freshology, Gourmet On the Go, HMR At Home (Health Management Resources), Healthy Living Foods, In The Zone Delivery, Mediterranean Meals, Nutrition In Motion (Canadian), Nutrifit, Personal Chef To Go, Pure Foods, Rawvolution, Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating, Susan’s Healthy Gourmet, The Slimdown, The Fresh Diet.  (address, program descriptions, prices, market outlooks, financials when available). 

Research for the study was based on primary research involving custom Marketdata diet market research and telephone surveys of company management, coupled with secondary research of competitor websites, UFOCs, SEC filings and other sources.

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Custom Market Research and "Teleconsulting" - Mr. LaRosa will inform and advise you of current weight loss market trends, via a phone conference call - cost is $250/hr. pro-rated for actual time spent. We also perform custom projects (market potential for a city, competitor analysis, etc.). In-person consulting is $1,500/day plus expenses.

Marketdata also offers internet consulting in the following areas:

• Website design, re-design and ecommerce setups.
• Development and deployment of affiliate programs.
• Custom database design and implementation for your website.
• Advice and management consulting regarding pay per click and natural search campaigns.

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BestDietForMe.com is a major weight loss portal, with 2,000+ pages of unique content articles, program/company reviews, and a unique and unbiased free online diet quiz/matching service - operated for 6 years by Marketdata. Advertise on the Internet's most comprehensive weight loss portal and a leading traffic diet website.

• Pay Per Click Advertising
• Banner Advertising

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Dieter Leads: We sell Emails of dieters who registered and completed a 50-question online survey at our 6-year old website: BestDietForMe.com. Leads are opt-ins, 90% female. Can be chosen by state, major city, age, BMI, etc. Price: 15 cents each (regular leads) and 25 cents each (double opt-in diet food delivery leads). Can be used more than once--not one-time rental. New leads collected DAILY. Call us for details. 70,000+ leads for last 2 years.

Click here for more info:  http://www.bestdietforme.com/bdfmsalesleads.htm

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Online Dieter Research - Quarterly Reports

Marketdata Enterprises (the leading analyst of the weight loss market since 1989) has operated a website named: BestDietForMe.com for six years now. This site is one of the leading traffic diet websites on the Internet. BestDietForMe essentially is a real-time data collection vehicle to monitor national online dieter behavior.

Price: $895 per Quarterly Report   /   Also available as a yearly subscription, for $2,995

Each quarter, Marketdata compiles and analyzes the responses of this sample, producing a wealth of statistics that are compared to previous quarters. The service was begun with the 1st quarter 2005. Companies seeking to measure shifting online dieter preferences for types of weight loss programs, food/exercise/budget/support & motivation and other preferences, will find these reports extremely helpful in tracking fickle dieter behavior. The service is applicable to: providers of weight loss programs/products, health clubs, ad agencies & PR firms with weight loss clients, diet website operators, low-cal food & beverage/diet food mfrs., hospitals & surgeons with weight loss programs—any company trying to reach dieters online. Other syndicated research services cost $25,000+ per year, and don’t provide the same level of detail.

U.S. Weight Loss Market Status Report & 2008 Forecast  (January 2008)  - a 60 page "status report" and outlook for the 2008 diet season and beyond. Discussion of 2007-2008 major market developments, marketing/advertising trends, growth of small-mid-sized commercial/medical chains, Calorie Control Council's 2008 diet market trends and projections. Contains in-depth competitor profiles and 9-month 2007 financials/2008 revenues forecasts for: Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, eDiets.com, Medifast, LA Weight Loss. Also contains 4th quarter 2007 Online Dieter preferences & characteristics. Price: $895

 

For more info Contact:

John LaRosa at: 813-907-9090

 

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Online Dieter Research - Quarterly Report

4th Quarter 2009

Based On 5,001 Daily Visitors Completing The BestDietForMe.com Survey
 

Report  #ODR20

 

January  2010, 100 Pages, 35 Tables

Price: $895 per quarterly report, or $2,995 per yearly subscription (4 reports)

Report Description

Marketdata Enterprises (the leading analyst of the weight loss market since 1989) operates a website named: BestDietForMe.com. This site is now one of the leading weight loss information and analysis portals on the Internet. BestDietForme essentially is a real-time data collection vehicle to monitor national online dieter behavior, daily. A total of 4,425 people were included in the 4th quarter 2009 sample--people that filled out an in-depth 40-question online survey. Comparative data for the 3rd quarter of 2009 and 4th quarter 2008 included in this report.

Each quarter, Marketdata compiles and analyzes the responses of this sample, producing a wealth of statistics that are compared to previous quarters. The service was begun with the 1st quarter 2005. Companies seeking to measure shifting online dieter preferences for types of weight loss programs, food/exercise/budget/support & motivation and other preferences, will find these reports extremely helpful in tracking fickle dieter behavior. The service is applicable to: providers of weight loss programs/products, health clubs, ad agencies & PR firms with weight loss clients, diet website operators, low-cal food & beverage/diet food mfrs., hospitals & surgeons with weight loss programs—any company trying to reach dieters online. Other syndicated research services cost $25,000+ per year, and don’t provide the same level of detail.

Statistical tables are supplemented by in-depth analyses and commentary, based on Marketdata’s ongoing research and 20 year knowledge of the weight loss market.
 

Metrics Tracked

Each quarterly report will track 112 measures, including the following:

• Gender

• Age (5 categories)

• BMI (body mass index (separately for 5 categories, 18.5-40+)

• Percent opting in for special offers from diet companies

• Percent leaving name

• Dieters by starting weight

• Pregnant or nursing percentage

• Medical conditions, percent indicating at least one

• Their diet budget (separately for 6 categories: under $250 to $3,000+)

• Preferred weight loss program location (separately for 8 locations: home, weight loss center, hospital, worksite, health club, healthcare pro’s office, residential facility, celebrity program)

• Interest in weight loss (bariatric) surgery – percent

• Interest in home delivery of diet food – percent

• Preferred diet counselor format (separately for: self-directed, 1-to-1, small group, large group)

• Type food plan desired (separately for: grocery store food, pre-packaged diet co. food, meal replacements, liquid supplements)

• Percent interested only in diet plans with pre-planned daily menus

• Percent with special food needs, allergies, food sensitivities

• Readiness to begin a diet program (immediately-6 months)

• Previous types of diet plans used (percent by 18 types)

• Exercise preferences (separately for: online coaching, personal trainer, on-site classes, etc.)

• Psychological support needs: percent identified by BestDietForMe.com analysis as needing… emotional eating support, stimulus control, social eating skills support

Also Included…

• Discussion and analysis of the online dieting market: nature, market size.

• Full year 2008 and 9 months 2009 performance, financials and company developments, for: eDiets, Medifast, NutriSystem, Weight Watchers.

• 2010 Market Forecasts – Latest market trends

• Latest diet market developments: diet supplement sales in 2008, medical news – Meridia, new trade group for diet counselors, Ranking of top 10 diet plans by The Daily Beast, excerpts from Marketdata's new "How To Start A Profitable Weight Loss Business" Guide - what ruins most diet companies..

• Includes a 38-page Feb. 2009 status report of the TOTAL weight loss market, by segment, recent weight loss market developments: effect of the recession—segments most likely to benefit/lose, trends in diet program marketing/advertising,  2009  “diet season” progress, diet food home delivery growth slows, advertising/marketing trends, 2009 forecasts for: commercial chains, medical programs, diet drugs, OTC meal replacements & diet pills, diet foods, diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, health clubs, top diet trends for 2009, more.

• List of the top diet websites and their traffic (Alexa and Quantcast rankings, monthly visitors)

• Nature and size of online dieting market, evolution, changes, is online dieting effective?

• Latest Alexa traffic rankings of the top diet websites (July & October 2009, Jan. 2010 traffic)

• Forecasts and early identification of key trends. Diet company costs per client acquisition.

• Tables: the entire U.S. weight loss market and all its segments, 1989-2008 sales,

• Table: Top 8 commercial chains’ revenues for 2005-2008

• Reference Directory of Weight Loss Industry Information Sources.

Note: This report does not contain state or city data.