Weight Management

According to the World Health Organization, globally there are about 1.6 billion overweight adults and more than 400 million adults considered obese. By 2015, those numbers are projected to balloon to 2.3 billion and 700 million respectively. Most staggering, though, is that there are more than 20 million children over the age of five considered overweight.

The increasing incidence of adult and childhood obesity is considered to be a major public health concern. The search for solutions is projected to significantly increase demand for healthier, higher protein foods and beverages going forward.

Soy protein offers a nutritional profile, including high-quality protein, that provides significant benefit in foods and beverages developed to support weight management.

As a complete high-quality protein, soy protein can increase satiety, helping consumers feel full longer. A growing market opportunity, satiety is projected to be the strongest driver in the future direction of the weight management market in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Soy protein is a more economic source of high-quality protein than dairy proteins and delivers satiety benefits just as effectively. Protein is also important during weight loss, protecting lean muscle mass as the body targets fat loss.

Consumers with weight problems often have other complicating health issues, such as high cholesterol, diabetes or impaired kidney function. Soy protein has been proven to be a heart healthy source of protein, low in saturated fat, that can lower cholesterol levels. It is useful in foods formulated to be low glycemic index (GI) and is easier for the kidneys to process versus animal-based proteins.

Soy protein is commonly used in many types of products designed to support weight management, including ready-to-drink and powdered meal replacement beverages, meal replacement bars, high-protein snack bars and low fat meat and meat alternative products.