Market Trends of Bariatric Transport Wheelchairs Industry
The Automated Bariatric Wheelchair Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
The automated bariatric wheelchair is a pedestrian-operated, battery-electric mover that enables the passenger on the automatic wheelchair to move around smoothly and effortlessly. The major benefit of having an automated or powered wheelchair over a manual one is a small electric motor. The electric motor has the capacity to move the power wheelchair in a much easier and simpler manner. Powered wheelchairs also offer the benefit of quick and easy maneuvering, owing to the fact that, by providing free movement of the automated wheelchair while turning circles, the user can direct through small areas very easily.
As the majority of obese patients often have lesser upper body control, problems associated with free movement, and lesser core arm strength, using an automated wheelchair is the most convenient way of their mobility. An electric wheelchair enables the patients to move around easily without resulting in any kind of strain on their bodies. The increasing obesity in different countries around the world is also boosting the growth of the market segment. For instance, the World Obesity Atlas, accessed in April 2023, reported that in Iran, the prevalence of obesity in adults was 25%, and 38.10% of the adults in the population were overweight in 2021.
Several technological advancements in the area of an automatic wheelchairs for overweight or obese individuals' mobility are expected to boost the growth of the segment during the forecast period. For instance, in August 2021, Invacare Corporation launched its Invacare AVIVA STORM RX power wheelchair. The automatic wheelchair is a next-generation rear-wheel drive power wheelchair.
Therefore, owing to the advantage and ease of usage of the automatic bariatric wheelchair, the growth of the segment is expected during the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period
North America is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period, owing to the increasing number of obese populations across the region. Another driving factor is the availability of better healthcare infrastructure in the region and the rising awareness about facilities available for obese people. The number of obese and overweight people in the United States is significant, which can drive the demand for bariatric transport wheelchairs. For instance, as per the data published by the Trust for America Health in 2021, over 41 states in the United States have an adult obesity rate of 30% and higher in 2021. The same source also stated that the adult obesity rate was 39.9% in Alabama in 2021. Further, as per the data published by Statistics Canada in 2021, over 2,398,200 and 1,727,000 individuals aged 18 to 34 years were reported to be overweight and obese, respectively, in 2021, in Canada.
Furthermore, the region has significant healthcare expenditure, which is expected to boost the adoption of bariatric transport wheelchairs by obese and overweight individuals. For instance, as per the data published by the Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2022, healthcare expenditure increased by 2.7% in 2021 from 2020, reaching USD 4.3 trillion or USD 12,914 per person in 2021 in the United States. Further, as per the data published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) in November 2022, it was estimated that the total health expenditure in Canada would increase to CAD 331 billion (USD 241.99 billion) in 2022.
Also, the recent developments by the market players would also boost the growth of the market in the region. For instance, in March 2021, Invacare Corporation and its subsidiary, Alber USA, LLC, launched their next generation of power assist devices, the Alber e-motion (M25,) which is an electrically powered wheelchair and push rim activated device that features wheels with a powerful in-hub motor and lithium-ion batteries.
Therefore, with the above-mentioned factors of a high burden of obesity and overweight and the launch of products by the market players in the region, the studied market is expected to grow further during the forecast period.
