NAICS 812191 Quarterly Industry Report
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 812191Sector: Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Diet and Weight Reducing Centers (NAICS 812191) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[8], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, health and wellness analysts, and weight management industry investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the diet and weight reducing centers industry.
NAICS Sector
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Industry Definition & Overview
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers (NAICS 812191) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing non-medical weight loss programs that assist clients in attaining or maintaining a desired weight per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include individual and group weight management counseling, branded meal plan programs, exercise and activity planning, weight and body measurement monitoring, behavioral modification coaching, and sale of proprietary food products and dietary supplements as part of structured weight loss programs.
The industry operates at the intersection of personal care services and health-conscious consumer spending, with established franchise brands such as Weight Watchers (WW), Jenny Craig, and Nutrisystem competing alongside independent weight management consultants and local weight loss centers. Programs typically combine food product sales with counseling services, creating multiple revenue streams from membership fees, consultation charges, and proprietary food and supplement purchases. Growing competition from digital weight management apps, telehealth nutrition counseling, and GLP-1 receptor agonist medications prescribed for weight loss has disrupted traditional center-based models, pushing many operators toward hybrid in-person and digital delivery formats. The FTC[6] enforces advertising substantiation requirements for weight loss claims under its consumer protection authority, requiring providers to have reliable evidence supporting marketed results.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $27.5 million in average annual receipts. State consumer protection agencies enforce additional regulations on weight loss program contracts, refund policies, and health claims made in marketing materials.
What's Included in This Industry
- Individual weight management counseling
- Group weight loss program sessions
- Branded meal plan and menu planning services
- Exercise and physical activity planning
- Weight and body measurement monitoring
- Behavioral modification coaching
- Proprietary food product and supplement sales
- Online and app-based program delivery
- Maintenance and weight management follow-up programs
- Nutritional education workshops
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 81 |
| Subsector | Personal and Laundry Services | 812 |
| Industry Group | Personal Care Services | 8121 |
| NAICS Industry | Other Personal Care Services | 81219 |
| National Industry | Diet and Weight Reducing Centers | 812191 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 812199 | Other Personal Care Services | Other Personal Care Services includes day spas and wellness establishments that offer body treatments and wellness programs complementing weight management services, with both industries serving health-conscious consumers investing in personal appearance and physical wellbeing |
| 621399 | Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners | Offices of All Other Miscellaneous Health Practitioners includes licensed dietitians and nutritionists providing medical nutrition therapy that overlaps with non-medical weight loss counseling, with the distinction between medical and non-medical nutrition services defining the boundary between healthcare and personal care classifications |
| 325411 | Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing | Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing produces dietary supplements and nutritional products that weight loss centers sell as program components, with supplement quality, branding, and proprietary formulations contributing to center revenue and program differentiation |
| 812112 | Beauty Salons | Beauty Salons serves the personal appearance market alongside weight management centers, with both industries targeting consumers who allocate discretionary spending toward personal improvement and self-care services across multiple service categories |
| 812113 | Nail Salons | Nail Salons shares the broader personal care services customer base with weight management centers, with personal care spending patterns showing correlation between consumers who invest in multiple appearance and wellness service categories |
| 611511 | Cosmetology and Barber Schools | Cosmetology and Barber Schools represents vocational training in the personal services sector that parallels wellness certification programs preparing counselors for weight management center positions requiring nutrition and behavioral coaching skills |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 10.6% | 267 |
| 2 | Florida | 9.5% | 239 |
| 3 | Texas | 8.4% | 211 |
| 4 | New York | 5.3% | 133 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 4.4% | 110 |
| 6 | Michigan | 4.0% | 101 |
| 7 | Illinois | 3.7% | 93 |
| 8 | Georgia | 3.7% | 93 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 3.5% | 87 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 3.0% | 76 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
440
Total SBA Loans
$129.9M
Total Loan Volume
$295K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.46%
Average Interest Rate
2,864
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Diet and Weight Reducing Centers (NAICS 812191) has a size standard of $27.5 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support center buildout, food product inventory, and technology platforms for qualifying weight management businesses. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 16 | $33.6M | $2.1M |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 136 | $22.3M | $164K |
| 3 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 8 | $10.9M | $1.4M |
| 4 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 40 | $10.6M | $266K |
| 5 | Truliant FCU | 8 | $9.0M | $1.1M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for weight loss centers?
NAICS 812191 covers diet and weight reducing centers providing non-medical weight loss programs including counseling, meal plans, and supplement sales per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is $27.5 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for diet and weight reducing center businesses.
What regulations apply to weight loss advertising?
The FTC[6] requires weight loss providers to have reliable scientific evidence supporting advertised results under consumer protection advertising substantiation requirements, with enforcement actions targeting deceptive or unsubstantiated weight loss claims in marketing materials.
What is the difference between medical and non-medical weight loss?
Non-medical weight loss centers (NAICS 812191) provide counseling, meal plans, and behavioral modification without physician oversight per Census Bureau[8] classification, while medical weight loss operates under healthcare provider licensing with physician-supervised programs, prescription medications, and clinical interventions.
How have GLP-1 medications affected the industry?
GLP-1 receptor agonist medications prescribed for weight loss have disrupted traditional center-based programs by offering pharmaceutical alternatives, prompting many weight management companies to add medication management services or emphasize behavioral and nutritional components that complement pharmacotherapy.
What are the largest weight loss program brands?
Weight Watchers (WW), Jenny Craig, and Nutrisystem rank among the largest branded weight management programs operating through combinations of in-person centers, digital platforms, and direct-to-consumer meal delivery per SBA[13] market research guidance.
Do weight loss centers need special licenses?
Weight loss centers providing non-medical counseling generally require standard business licensing and must comply with state consumer protection regulations governing program contracts and refund policies, while centers employing licensed dietitians or healthcare practitioners face additional professional licensing requirements.
How has digital delivery changed weight management?
Mobile apps, virtual group sessions, and telehealth nutrition counseling have enabled hybrid delivery models that combine periodic in-person meetings with daily digital engagement, reducing the real estate footprint needed for weight management operations while expanding geographic reach beyond local center markets.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]FTC ftc.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]SBA sba.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.