Low-Calorie Food Market is Anticipated to Witness Steady Growth Owing to Rising Health Consciousness

The low-calorie food market comprises a wide range of low-calorie or reduced-calorie food and beverage products that help support weight management. Some key categories in this market include low-calorie sweeteners, reduced-calorie beverages, low-calorie dairy products, low-calorie baked products & snacks, low-calorie desserts, etc. Growing health consciousness among consumers due to rising obesity and related disorders has increased the demand for specially formulated low-calorie food products in recent years.

The global low-calorie food market is estimated to be valued at US$ 14.66 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.7% over the forecast period 2024 to 2030.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the low-calorie food market are GE Healthcare,,Philips Healthcare,,NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION,,Schiller AG,,Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. These players are focusing on new product launches, partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions to consolidate their market position.

There is high growth potential for low-calorie food products in emerging countries owing to growing health awareness, rising disposable incomes, and expanding retail infrastructure in these regions. Leading companies are exploring opportunities in Asian, African, and South American markets through partnerships with local players.

Additionally, the growing demand for customized, clean-label, plant-based, and organic low-calorie food products provides opportunities for manufacturers to expand their product portfolio and appeal to the diverse preferences of global consumers.

Market drivers and restrain
Growing obesity rates and related healthcare costs are major drivers for the low-calorie food market. According to the WHO, the global prevalence of obesity nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016 as weight management has become a high priority worldwide. The availability of a wide range of low-calorie food options allows consumers to make healthier diet choices and maintain calorie-controlled diets for weight loss or management.

However, high research & development costs for formulation of low-calorie variants pose a major challenge for many small and mid-sized players. Additionally, consumer skepticism regarding the long-term effects and quality of artificial low-calorie sweeteners and other ingredients limits the growth potential for some product categories. Strict regulatory frameworks for low-calorie claims and nutrition labeling also restrain innovation and market expansion.

Segment Analysis
The Low-Calorie Food Market Share  is dominated by dairy and bakery sub-segment. Low-fat dairy products such as yogurt and cheese are highly preferred by consumers as replacing dairy with low-fat varieties helps reduce calories significantly. Similarly, low-calorie baked foods such as bread, biscuits and cookies made using substitutes like oats, wheat bran are seeing increasing demand. The health and wellness trend has pushed demand for minimally processed and chemical-free low-calorie food options in the bakery sub-segment.

Global Analysis
The North America region currently dominates the low-calorie food market and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. Increasing health consciousness and growing obesity rates in the US and Canada is driving the need for low-calorie food options in the region. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness the highest growth rate owing to rising incomes, expanding retail distribution and growing awareness about nutrition and health benefits of low-calorie food especially in populous countries like India and China.