This exclusive report from just-food provides insight into the developing, and often controversial, industry of dieting and weight management.

The rate of new product development in this sector is increasing quickly, consumer awareness of nutrition has grown, and value and volume sales of diet foods have risen over the past five years. However, there are still currently more than 1bn overweight adults worldwide and we find ourselves in the midst of an obesity "blame game" - with the food industry bearing the brunt of this criticism.

It is now imperative for the food industry to demonstrate a proactive rather than a reactive role in the health trend, in order to answer its critics and tackle obesity long-term. If this approach is successful, just-food predicts the diet-related food and drink market to grow by 3.1% in Europe and 3.6% in the US between 2006 and 2012.

With dieting already an integral part of our eating habits, this report analyses growth strategies to optimise future opportunities and delves into new product development in key markets such as the UK, Europe, the US and Asia-Pacific. The study considers the main drivers and trends in the major food categories in order to better understand the future direction of the weight management market and its current role in the global health megatrend.

Market forecasts are provided to 2012 and brand case-studies are included throughout the report, as are comments from relevant industry executives at companies such as Weight Watchers, Nestlé and Kraft Foods.

At almost 30,000 words, this new report is roughly twice the size of just-food's previous global market reviews.

Chapter coverage is as follows:

• Chapter 1 provides an executive summary.
• Chapter 2 offers an introduction into the world of dieting and weight management, including the global obesity epidemic, the role of diet foods within the health megatrend and the increasing importance of exercise.
• Chapter 3 considers a number of branding and marketing issues relating to this market, including portion control, the promotion of exercise, joint ventures with healthy lifestyle brands, targeting children and the rise and fall of Atkins. The chapter concludes by summarising strategies that can help build and maintain consumer trust and confidence. A case study of cereal manufacturer Kellogg is also included
• Chapter 4 analyses NPD trends in the diet food market, focusing on certain categories that are profiting from growing consumer interest in diet and weight management foods - namely dairy and bakery and cereals. We also look at the ease of following a diet regime, convenience and meal replacements and future NPD opportunities.
• Chapter 5 explores the ten top diets we believe will make an impact on NPD and marketing within the food and drink industry to 2012. Each diet has it's own SWOT analysis and we forecast the popularity of these diets in 2006 versus 2012
• Chapter 6 offers future forecasts and marketing strategies to 2012. This includes market value forecasts for appetite suppressants, diet-related food and drink and low fat foods. The report concludes with the results of just-food's online dieting survey.

Chapter 1 Executive summary
Introduction to the world of dieting and weight management
Branding and marketing in the diet foods and weight management market to 2012
NPD trends in the diet food market
Exploring the potential ten top diets to 2012
Future forecasts and marketing strategies to 2012

Chapter 2 Introduction to the world of dieting and weight management
Report methodology
Aim of the report
About the author
Definitions used within this report
Drivers behind the current popularity of the weight management market
Fighting the flab
The role of diet foods within the health megatrend
Energy out: Increasing importance of exercise

Chapter 3 Branding and marketing in the diet foods and weight management market to 2012
Introduction
Portion control
A nation on the move, or out of breath?
Case study: Kellogg
New product development
Kids and dieting
Should food companies be able to advertise to children?
Positive PR spin
Would you put your child on a diet?
The rise and fall of Atkins
Summary

Chapter 4 NPD trends in the diet food market
Introduction
Yoghurt holds huge appeal to weight-conscious consumers
Top ten yoghurts and dessert brands in the UK
The ultimate no-no for dieters gets a skinny facelift
Breakfast - the most important meal of the day for dieter
Bakery and cereals: off the shopping list or the dieters' best friend?
Ease of following a diet regime throughout the average day
Case study: Reformulation to a 'better-for-you' brand
Health, convenience and meal replacements
Points to consider before moving into the meal replacements market
Future NPD opportunities

Chapter 5 Exploring the potential ten top diets to 2012
Popularity of diets in 2006 versus 2012
Fad diets
Weight Watchers International
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The South Beach Diet
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The glycemic index diet
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The high fibre diet (The F-Plan)
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The living and raw food diet
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The Mediterranean diet
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The debit and credit diet (or the Monday to Friday diet)
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
Future impact and longevity
The functional food diet
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The Jenny Craig Diet
Background
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity
The macrobiotic diet
Background
Target audience
SWOT analysis to 2012
Category potential
NPD and innovation
Future impact and longevity

Chapter 6 Future forecasts and marketing strategies to 2012
Introduction
Diet pills and supplements
Diet-related, weight management foods market value to 2012
Low-fat foods market to 2012
Which diets will prevail in 2012 and which should the industry avoid?
Consumer insight
Have you ever been on a diet?
The gender divide in dieting
Which diets have you ever tried?
Measure of success
Are the sensible eating and exercise messages getting through to consumers?

List of figures
Figure 1: The difficulty of following a diet during the day
Figure 2: The UltraSlim range
Figure 3: Popularity of ten top diets with consumers in 2006 and 2012
Figure 4: Weight Watchers' SWOT analysis
Figure 5: The South Beach Diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 6: The glycemic index's SWOT analysis
Figure 7: The high fibre diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 8: The living and raw food diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 9: The Mediterranean diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 10: The debit and credit diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 11: The functional food diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 12: The Jenny Craig Diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 13: The macrobiotic diet's SWOT analysis
Figure 14: Have you ever purchased diet pills or weight management supplements?
Figure 15: Have you ever been on a diet?
Figure 16: Which methods do you use/have you used to control your weight?

List of tables
Table 1: Yoghurt market value, selected regions, 2002-2006 (US$m)
Table 3: Cheese market value, selected regions, 2002-2006 (US$m)
Table 3: Meal replacement market value, 2006 compared to 2012 (US$m)
Table 4: eDiets - top diets advertised on different countries' homepages
Table 5: Weight Watchers' food range
Table 6: Major countries' market values of bakery and cereals products, 2006-2012 (US$m)
Table 7: Appetite suppressants' market value forecast in selected countries, 2006-2012 (US$m)
Table 8: Diet-related food and drink market value forecasts, 2006-2012 (US$bn)
Table 9: UK low-fat foods' market value forecasts, 2006-2012 (US$m)
Table 10: Which of the following diets have you ever tried?
Table 11: Other diets
Table 12: If you have ever been on a diet, which one was the most successful?