Canada's Weight Loss Spending Report

Losing weight is a common health goal Canadians set, but it often comes with costs that aren't talked about enough. From gym memberships to meal plans to personal training, the spending adds up, and many Canadians are making trade-offs to keep it going. MedExpress surveyed more than 400 Canadians to learn how much they're spending on weight loss, which methods they're using, and what they're cutting back on to afford it.

Key takeaways

• 87% of Canadians surveyed tried to lose weight in the past year, and more than half (52%) are frustrated by what it costs.
• Personal trainer users report the highest satisfaction of any weight loss method used at 71%.
• 40% of Canadians have stopped a weight loss program, treatment, or service at some point because of cost.
• Canadians are cutting dining (26%), travel (20%), and even groceries (12%) to fund weight loss efforts.

The methods Canadians are using and how happy they are with them

• 62% of Canadians actively pursuing weight loss have used a gym or fitness centre membership, making it the most common method, and 56% of gym users are satisfied with their results.
• Personal trainer users report the highest satisfaction of any method at 71%, followed by meal delivery/prepared food service users (64%) and weight loss injectable users (62%).
• Nearly 1 in 10 Canadians pursuing weight loss (9%) have used a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
• Men are more likely than women to use the gym (69% vs. 55%) and a personal trainer (12% vs. 6%).
• Women are more likely than men to use mobile apps or wearables (62% vs. 49%) and weight loss injectables (13% vs. 7%).
• 52% of those actively pursuing weight loss feel frustrated by how much money it takes to do so effectively, but 50% still feel their spending has been worth it.
• 40% have stopped a weight loss program, treatment, or service at some point primarily because of cost.

The real cost and what Canadians are giving up

• 1 in 7 Canadians actively pursuing weight loss spent $1,000 or more out-of-pocket on weight loss in the past year.
• Nearly 1 in 3 millennials (35%) spent $500 or more on weight loss in the past year, compared to 1 in 4 Gen Z (23%).
• 40% have stopped a weight loss program, treatment, or service at some point, primarily because of cost.
• 36% of Canadians trying to lose weight say the biggest barrier is cost or affordability.
• 44% of Canadians have used personal savings to fund their weight loss spending.
• 39% put weight loss costs on a credit card that they didn't pay off right away.
• 12% have prioritised weight loss over food or groceries.

Methodology

MedExpress commissioned an online survey of 464 Canadians to explore attitudes and behaviours related to weight loss spending. Respondents who had not actively pursued weight loss in the past 12 months were excluded from spending analysis, resulting in a qualified sample of 402 Canadians. The sample was 43% women, 42% men, and 2% non-binary. Generationally, respondents were 44% millennials, 30% Gen Z, 11% Gen X, and 3% baby boomers. Average spending figures use IQR-adjusted means to account for outliers.

Fair Use Statement

MedExpress encourages the sharing of this data for non-commercial purposes. If you use the findings from this survey, please attribute the source as MedExpress and include a link back to this page.