"Escape from Summer Weight Gain"... Home Workout Equipment and Diet Foods 'Flying Off the Shelves'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chunhan] Recently, office worker Kim (31) purchased chicken breast and diet shakes in preparation for the upcoming summer. With the phased return to normal life (With Corona), including exemptions from self-quarantine measures for overseas arrivals, Kim has started working on body shaping ahead of the vacation season. Kim said, "I gained about 10 kg over the past two years," adding, "If this continues, I won't be able to wear a swimsuit, so I am combining diet and exercise."

According to Gmarket on the 30th, sales of home training equipment such as horseback riding machines (17%), squat machines (13%), hula hoops (75%), yoga mats (62%), yoga and Pilates wear (48%), and foam rollers (15%) sharply increased compared to the previous month from the 1st to the 27th of this month. During the same period, sales of body management products on 11st increased by 60%.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has prolonged, home training has now become part of people's daily lives. With more time spent at home, red flags have been raised for weight management, and with the cumulative confirmed cases reaching 10 million, going to the gym immediately is burdensome. According to Open Survey's ‘Health Management Trend Report 2021,’ when 1,000 men and women aged 20-50 were asked about their main exercise location, 45.8% answered ‘home,’ the highest response.

Demand for diet foods has also increased significantly. During the same period, sales of diet shakes on Gmarket rose 12% compared to the previous month, diet bars 65%, canned chicken breast 27%, and health supplements 12%. On 11st, sales of health supplements increased by 10%. A distribution industry official said, "As restrictions on overseas travel have recently eased, the number of customers starting diets is increasing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.