In a speech presented at Prepared Foods’ 2009 R&D Applications Seminar-Chicago, Greg Stephens, vice-president, strategic consulting, National Marketing Institute (NMI), explained an aging American population is very interested in supplements for health, as there are “emerging and growing conditions that are not defined by traditional medicine...Baby Boomers want to retain control of their health.” Other concerns spurring this interest include more easily accessible health information (e.g., via websites); a concern over the safety and side effects of prescription medications; a new respect for alternative therapies; and rising health care costs in a struggling economy.
According NMI’s 2009 Healthy Aging Boomer Database (HAB)®, 80% of respondents said they are interested in new approaches to managing their health. Some 77% are very concerned about their personal health and are actively managing it, while about 50% said they are always looking for new self-care methods to prolong their health and vitality.