Weight loss business growing at fast pace

As obesity remains a health concern for most of Europe and especially the UK, the market for weight loss supplements or diet pills has grown strong in the UAE.

"Despite the economic crisis across the globe, the weight management market is still accelerating as the core targets of this market are the consumers for whom health and beauty is of higher importance than the cost. Such impulsive consumers are driving the growth of the market," Dr Safeek Ali, a dietician at Welcare Hospital, told Gulf News.

"The market players are therefore formulating attractive advertisements and brand promotions to gear up their product revenues amongst the numerous other alternatives and substitutes that are available in the market."

Big names

The two biggest players in the UAE weight-loss pills market were Xenical, produced by Swiss giants Roche, and Reductil, made by the US's Abbott Laboratories.

At the beginning of this year, Reductil was recalled from the shelves of 300 licensed pharmacies across the emirates due to risks they carried of increasing the chance of heart attack and stroke. Following this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a campaign against weight-loss products that contained certain prescription drugs and chemicals, many of which were being sold as dietary supplements.

They issued warnings about more than 70 products found to contain undeclared chemicals. According to pharmacists, Xenical is the only chemical product on the market. According to recent national statistics, more than 60 per cent of Emiratis are overweight.

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 25 per cent of men and almost 40 per cent of women aged over 15 in the UAE are obese. Health experts have put it down to diet, lifestyle and education.

Obesity in the UK

More than half of the adult population in the UK is either overweight or obese. About 2 in 5 adults in the UK are overweight while 1 in 5 adults are obese. The number of obese people in the UK is rising, particularly among young adults.

How do you know if you are overweight or obese?

Your BMI (Body Mass Index) relates your weight to your height and describes how much of your body is made up of fat. If your BMI is greater then 25 then you are overweight and if it is greater then 30 then you are obese.

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