Weight. It’s an American obsession, driving the food, beverage, exercise and clothing industries, among thousands of other businesses. For some people, it can be an all-consuming focus. For others, it is so much a part of their lifestyle that they barely notice the scale.

What is a fact is that the rate of obesity is skyrocketing in the United States, rising to the point where the majority of Americans are overweight and have a high body mass index. That spells opportunity for many businesses, and there is no shortage of companies willing to seize the day and service the growing (literally) population in need of weight management.

There is a flip side to the coin, one that doesn’t get as much notice in these obesity-conscious times. Some people are trying to put on weight. These include the elderly, those interested in adding muscle and people suffering from some ravaging disease. They have their own nutritional supplements, bulk-adding drinks and trainers.

Weight Is Big Business

ABC News estimates that the weight management industry is a $20 billion annual business. That figure embraces such areas as diet drugs, diet books and weight-loss surgeries. Add in the ancillary affected businesses, and it’s likely to total at least triple that amount.

More than 100 million people will go on a diet in the United States, making up to five attempts to shed excess pounds during the year. Most will fail, and five years out, even the successful people will not keep the weight off. Celebrity endorsers struggle with keeping weight off, even with millions of dollars in endorsement fees and career pressures to stay trim.


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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
   
5. Counseling - Weight control is as much about emotional issues as it is about the physical side. You do not have to have credentials to be a confidante to those obsessed with losing weight. Just be sure not to practice medicine or give medical advice. The counselor should focus on support and direction.
6. Start a diet food service - If you love to cook low-calorie meals and have a knack for making things delicious, appetizing and fresh, then you can build a small food delivery service for the diet conscious. This can be started out of a home kitchen and expanded as needed.
7. Become a personal trainer - Have extra space in your home and a knack for pushing people to their limits? Trainers are people with kinetic knowledge and the ability to motivate their clients to exercise. Word of mouth can quickly build if you’ve got the knack to get people up and moving, and public parks are great places for boot camps and group exercise sessions.
8. Become a publicist or marketer - All weight-loss businesses need help getting the word out and reaching potential new clients. If you have expertise in getting stories placed in media, are adept at social media, or simply know how to create great graphics and manage online advertising, you may be a great candidate to help others reach their goals while making your own money.
9. Become a videographer - All of the would-be exercise gurus, diet food manufacturers, nutritional supplement creators and weight-loss counselors need to have a visual component. Creating infomercials that can run online and in the wee, small hours of the morning on television can be a lucrative and rewarding practice.
10. Develop an exercise tool - Whether it’s stretching bands, exercise balls or exotic weights for lifting, there are millions of people who use exercise gimmicks to achieve their goals. You can take existing tools and simply re-brand them, or create your own using a white-label manufacturer who will create the product with your specifications. It is all about the marketing once you have the product in hand.

There are other paths in this billion-dollar industry that entrepreneurs can take. Given the obesity trends in the United States and around the world, it is a business that will grow for many years to come.