Health problems daunting most Indians in the post-Covid world

While navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, consumers have made significant changes to their health and wellness habits. Recently released results from a global survey conducted by Amway, an entrepreneur-led health and wellness company, and The Logit Group are putting a finer point on consumer behavioural changes over the past over 18 months.

The survey - which analyzed more than 8,000 respondents across eight countries, including 1,000 respondents in India - found that nearly half of all global respondents, and the figure was higher among Indian respondents, reported a positive change in health and wellness behaviours over the last year, including improving diet (69 per cent Indian/50 per cent global), fitness routines (69 per cent Indian/48 per cent global) and introducing new multivitamins or other supplements (54 per cent Indian/47 per cent global).

Motivators for these positive changes vary, with 85 per cent of Indian respondents saying they are trying to improve their current state of health and 70 per cent saying they are trying to prevent future health conditions. As consumers seek out ways to help strengthen their immune systems, more than eight in 10 Indian respondents (83 per cent) also said they regularly take health and wellness supplements.

Consumers expect transparency regarding where a product comes from and how it's made. Adults are more concerned about the types of products they consume, and over three quarters of Indian respondents (78 per cent / 66 per cent of respondents globally) said that traceability – knowing where a product and its ingredients come from – is an important consideration in purchasing decisions. Furthermore, almost nine in 10 Indians (89 per cent) say they would have more trust in a company if its health and wellness products are easily traceable.

"This global survey confirms a growing consumer demand for product safety, transparency and traceability – a demand that has only been further accelerated by the events of the pandemic. Furthermore, respondents in India express a much stronger concern for improving health, holistic lifestyle habits and regularly taking health and wellness supplements," said Anouchah Sanei, Amway Chief Innovation & Science Officer. "At Amway, we believe that consumers deserve to know what is in the products they are taking. For products like Nutrilite™, that means tracing botanical ingredients from seed to supplement to ensure they are pure and ethically produced, and documenting manufacturing details to ensure every product is made safe and effective. Traceability is an integral part of our supply chain and has been core to our business for more than 60 years."

Reflecting on the findings of the Global Survey, Mr Anshu Budhraja, CEO, Amway India, said, "We are in the most exciting times with health and wellness taking the top spot in the mindspace of the consumers. With heightened awareness towards self-care, Indian consumers have shown much stronger adoption of multivitamins and dietary supplements as compared to their global counterparts. The consumer behavioral trends from the report connote Immunity and Nutrition at the centerstage, with consumers opting for brands that promise quality, nutritional value, transparency, sustainability, and a strong ingredient story. Interestingly, the findings serve as leading factors to further innovate in the areas of Personalized and Simplified nutrition for a mass appeal, especially the millennials. Considering this, we are strategically placed in the nutrition category as a global leader.