Consumer Health Market Posts Impressive Growth In 2012, Forecast To Grow Even Bigger By 2017

In 2012, the overall consumer health market reached approximately $197 billion in value, according to market research firm Euromonitor International. During the webinar “Consumer Health as a Prevention and Solution to the Chronic Disease Epidemic” held in Chicago, the company said over-the-counter drugs accounted for $94 billion of the total market value, with vitamins and dietary supplements worth $82 billion. Data also showed weight control products were valued at $13 billion and sports nutrition at $8 billion. These categories helped drive the overall consumer health market to grow by 11 percent in 2007–2012, with OTC drugs growing 6 percent; vitamins and supplements, 17 percent; weight management, 5 percent; and sports nutrition, 41 percent. By 2017, global vitamin and dietary supplement sales are forecast to grow by $14 billion, or about $4.5 billion more than the OTC segment, according to Euromonitor consumer health analyst Chris Schmidt.