Tag: Bariatric
Are weight-loss drugs a new wrinkle for bariatrics?
December 29, 2023John Andrews
Bariatrics has been a consistently strong market for home medical equipment over the past couple decades, with few external disruptions to impede its progress. So, the seemingly overnight arrival of weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro raise questions for the market, from how they will impact bariatric surgery to heavy-duty medical equipment.
Yet, industry analysts and manufacturers don’t think it’s a major issue right now, as it is not realistic for many people...
Demand continues to soar in bariatric market
February 2, 2023John Andrews
America is not getting any thinner. As a result, demand for bariatric-grade home medical equipment products continue to soar, manufacturers in the field say.
A September 2022 report by Trust for America’s Health shows four in 10 Americans are clinically obese and obesity rates are climbing nationwide and within population groups. The report finds that persistent increases in obesity rates across population groups underscores that obesity is caused by a number of factors and authors...
Obesity rates fuel need for bariatrics
February 1, 2022John Andrews
The need for bariatric products only continues to grow as obesity levels rise in the U.S., driven of late by the stubborn COVID-19 virus, according to a new report.
Trust for America’s Health, a Washington-based non-profit, non-partisan organization that promotes health and wellness, found that the pandemic “has exacerbated the nation’s obesity rate,” as it “changed eating habits, worsened levels of food insecurity, created obstacles to physical activity and...
Demand for bariatrics remains strong
February 1, 2021John Andrews
Despite some disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of bariatric products have remained steady during the past year, manufacturers say.
Navigating disruptions
The pandemic has impacted the supply chain for bariatric products in various ways, including limiting access to health care and long-term care facilities, restricting access to products and clinicians.
“COVID-19 has had an impact on all segments of the mobility...
Graham-Field secures 'quick jump' with Gendron
June 26, 2020Liz Beaulieu, Editor
ATLANTA - GF Health Products has significantly increased the weight capacity of its bariatric product line with its acquisition of Gendron in June, says President and CEO Ken Spett.
Gendron has a number of products with 1,000-pound weight capacities, including beds, patient lifts, transport stretchers and patient commodes.
“It bumps us up, in many cases, to double the weight limit that we've had in the past,” he said.
Gendron, which has been in the “mobile patient management...
Graham-Field acquires Gendron
June 16, 2020HME News Staff
ATLANTA - GF Health Products has acquired Gendron, a manufacturer specializing in beds, mobility, seating and transfer equipment for the bariatric market.
“This acquisition will further allow Graham-Field to provide an integrated system of products to assist in the care of the bariatric patient and resident,” said Ken Spett, president and CEO of Graham-Field. “The acquisition will also expand our 'Made in USA' Strategic Initiative and will enhance the market potential...
Demand growing for heavy-duty products
February 3, 2020John Andrews
Strong demand for heavier-duty home medical products has made the bariatric category one of HME's biggest growth areas over the past decade. And manufacturers in the field say that obesity rates continue to be stubborn within the American population, so the necessity of producing bariatric versions remains vital.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017 show trends of public weight gain for people age 20 and older 10% higher over a 17-year period from 1999 to 2016....
Bariatrics market requires 'all-in' approach
January 24, 2019John Andrews
Experts in the bariatrics field contend that the category is much more than just heavy-duty equipment for obese patients. It should be more than just a sideline business for HME providers, they say, because there are myriad nuances to consider when providing products and services to this clientele.
The market has been one of HME's strongest performers in recent years and demographic data suggest that demand for bariatric-grade products will continue to be in high demand.
“Research...
Bariatrics momentum is slowing down
February 27, 2018John Andrews
For several years now, bariatrics has been a robust growth market for home medical equipment, following the rise in obesity across the U.S. As Americans' waistlines have bulged, HME manufacturers have responded by producing heavier duty versions of standard products across various categories.
Sales have been historically strong for mobility, support surface, bath safety and aids to daily living equipment, prompting a focus on continued development of new bariatric products. Yet there are signs...
Is bariatric DME becoming the new normal?
February 24, 2017John Andrews
There is no consensus among manufacturers about whether bariatrics should continue to be its own category or whether it should be incorporated into other HME segments. While some are including bariatric versions of mobility, bath safety, support surfaces and aids to daily living within those product portfolios, others continue to position bariatric models in their own category.
Whether bariatrics becomes more mainstream remains to be seen, though it appears that sales of bariatric versions are...