Obesity worries lift health, food prospects in Asia
It's the growing number of customers such as Bill Chung, who is on a
diet after packing on 30 kilograms, that food companies hope to attract
as they expand health food lines in Asia.
Affluence and sedentary lifestyles have brought health problems such
as obesity and diabetes to Asia, prompting locals such as Chung to fill
up their shopping carts with products such as oats, yoghurt and
vitamins.
"I went to a bookstore and read about it," said Chung, 33, a
self-employed Taipei resident who lost six kilograms (13 pounds) over
the past two months. "I'm spending a little less and it's all healthy,
so I'm on track."
Asia has lagged behind other regions in packaged health foods
consumption as the overall diet is relatively healthy with vegetables a
main ingredient in many local dishes.
Nevertheless, the region's recent economic success has prompted fast
food chains to expand outlets across Asia and foods such as ice-cream
and chocolates have become popular.
Where high calorie junk food goes, health food follows close behind,
those in the industry say, predicting solid growth for health products
in Asia in the next few years.
"They are emerging products," said Lyndsey Anderson, Asia food and
drink head for the London-based market forecasting firm Business
Monitor.
"It hasn't caught on as quickly in the developing world. People
traditionally have healthier diets anyway. The region is lagging the
rest of the world in that regard," Anderson said. "In terms of
transitioning, that is completely turning around," she said, adding that
she expected to see steady growth in this high-priced food sector
towards the end of 2010 or in early 2011 as the regional economy
improves. The market for functional foods, which range from flaxseed,
wheatgerm and soy-based products to probiotic yoghurt, is worth about
$20 billion in Asia, including Japan, Anderson said.
In addition to standard health foods, the supplements industry, which
includes vitamins and protein mixes.
"In Asia, as people are getting more and more affluent.
Reuters
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