Sales of self-diagnostic kits measuring obesity-related conditions such as blood-pressure, blood-glucose and body-fat have increased by more than 30 percent in the last five years.
As consumers become more conscious of leading a healthier lifestyle, sales of gadgets such as pedometers, body-fat and heartbeat monitors grew by 48 percent over the same period.
The self-diagnosis boom is fuelled by longer waiting hours at doctor's surgery and greater awareness about health and well-being.
Internet also has a role to play. "A multimedia society means that people are better educated on health issues than ever before. The Internet has revolutionised the way in which people manage their health, enabling them to self-diagnose as well as monitor their own wellbeing", according to Alexandra Richmond, senior consumer analyst at Mintel, reports The Herald.
A UK government report released Wednesday warned that, if weight gain in the population continues at existing rate, majority of Britons will be obese by 2050.
The country's self-diagnosis industry is reported to be worth around $200 million a year. It is expected to grow by further 60 percent by 2012 with sales expected to reach around $320 million a year.
Self-diagnosis kits related to diabetes and sexually transmitted diseases are expected to contribute significantly to industry's future growth.
