Sales of traditional diet pills are beginning to lose weight, as consumers shift their focus healthy living in a more holistic way, including eating more natural and organic foods as well as increasing their activity levels, and suppliers are adapting to this change by introducing new products and innovative delivery methods, according to attendees of ECRM’s recent Diet, Vitamin & Sports Nutrition EPPS.

“Diet pills are declining,” said one attendee. “It’s going to go back towards healthy eating vs just pills. Shoppers are now more interested in superfoods, smoothies, protein snacks and drinks instead. It’s now weight management with a focus on overall health.”

Indeed, this is why we’ve shifted the scope of the EPPS to address this consumer focus on products aimed at overall wellness and healthy living, which is reflected in the new name of the EPPS: The Weight & Nutritional Management EPPS

Plant-Based Proteins, Spices Gaining Popularity
Among these new trends noted by retailers and suppliers at the EPPS was a shift toward plant-based proteins in various nutritional products, particularly those that are natural, organic, and vegan. As part of their healthy lifestyles, many consumers are becoming vegans, and consequently we’re seeing products with vegan ingredients appearing in every aisle of the store – from traditional nutrition-oriented products such as supplements and bars, but also dry grocery items. Even beauty care products are experiencing this “Vegan Effect.”

Along with weight management, anti-aging is a focus, and while consumers for a long while have shopped the skin care aisle for anti-aging lotions and creams, now they are looking to address aging from the inside out via diet and nutritional supplements such as products containing ingredients like collagen, Manuka honey, and turmeric.

Turmeric, in fact, was specifically noted by several of the buyers and sellers interviewed during the EPPS. The main spice in curry, it’s known for its ability to help prevent disease and fight inflammation.

According to WebMD, turmeric is also used “for headaches, bronchitis, colds, lung infections, fibromyalgia, leprosy, fever, menstrual problems, itchy skin, recovery after surgery, and cancers. Other uses include depression, Alzheimer's disease, swelling in the middle layer of the eye (anterior uveitis), diabetes, water retention, worms, an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, urinary bladder inflammation, and kidney problems.”

With such a variety of applications, it’s no surprise that consumers looking for natural health aids are increasingly turning to products with this spice.

Special Delivery
Coinciding with consumers’ move away from traditional diet pills is their increasing demand for new delivery systems for their nutrition and weight management needs, according to buyers and sellers interviewed during the EPPS. Among those cited were shot delivery systems, vitamin sprays, vitamin gummies, and liquid proteins.

Minerva Pure Gold Collagen (see video below), is a great example. The 1.7-ounce shot includes collagen for healthy skin – or as Anthony Raissen, who represented the company at ECRM’s EPPS, says: “Skin care starts with a sip.”