According to research released yesterday (31 August) more than 80% of dieters in the US create their own eating plans, while only 6% use commercial diet plans such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.

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“Although there are numerous plans and options, consumers are looking for a diet they feel will work for them, and are developing their own strategies for coping with dieting,” said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior analyst for Mintel.


Mintel found that consumers awareness of diet programmes was surprisingly low. Evidence also suggested that consumers are hesitant to try new diet plans, with only 6% agreeing that they like to give new plans a go.


“Our society is always looking for a custom solution for good dieting,” said Mogelonsky. “We all know that exercise and healthy eating are the keys to successful dieting. Americans need to concentrate on finding a regimen that works best for them, beyond the fads and quick weight-loss schemes.”


With the majority of people picking and chosing between different healthy options, this trend is helping to drive the growth of the functional and health food sector.

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Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

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Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

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