Finally, many of the increasingly desperate people who have failed to lose weight have turned to the surgeon’s knife. More than 200,000 people have bariatric surgery each year, spending more than $20,000 on surgery and recovery.
Getting Your Share
There is ample opportunity for those interested in getting their piece of the pie as part of the multi-billion-dollar world of weight management. Here are some suggestions on opportunities to explore.
- Open a gym - There is a big upfront investment in equipment and insurance, but after that, the costs are basically rent, staff, insurance and utilities. Gyms charge monthly and annual memberships, and the big secret is many people sign up with intentions of using the facility, but then rarely -- if ever -- show, providing a stream of pure profit to gym owners. There are franchises available that offer the advantages of branding and national co-op advertising but require up-front fees and annual percentages of revenue. You can also go the do-it-yourself route with a good location.
- Open a weight-loss management center - Weight Watchers and other weight-loss centers offer national advertising, brand recognition and an established formula for dealing with customers. Like any franchise, there are up-front fees, training and royalties that have to be paid annually.
- Write a diet book - Many authors have few credentials but have a clever tie-in that grants them the authority to write a book. Perhaps you know a celebrity who would like to get in the game, or maybe you have lost an amazing amount of weight using a little-known technique. In this age of Amazon.com and e-book distribution, the costs of printing and shipping are no longer a factor in getting your views out to the world.
- Develop nutritional supplement businesses - The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the supplement business, leaving the field wide open to anyone. Marketing is a key with supplements -- there are many brands on the market that offer similar ingredients and claims. But a stylish bottle and a good pitch can go a long way.