Health Club Trend Report 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 12, 2005 - More than 40 million Americans are members of health clubs….and that number is growing steadily. According to SGMA International, 41.3 million people were members of health/fitness clubs in the United States in 2004 - up from 32.8 million in 2000. That's one of the many newsworthy highlights extracted from The Health Club Trend Report (2005 edition).

The contents of this annual report are quite extensive and will give the reader a rather comprehensive overview of the health club industry in the USA. As you would expect, The Health Club Trend Report provides demographics on today's health club member - gender, age, age within gender, household income, and education. It also contains annual membership figures from 1987-2004. Other major categories covered in The Health Club Trend Report include geography of health club memberships, frequency of health club use, personal trainer usage, health club membership fees, duration of memberships, a breakdown of memberships based on race/ethnicity, among others. There is also a health club participation breakdown based on nearly 20 forms of exercise equipment/activities - ranging from abdominal machines to recumbent bikes to yoga/tai chi.

A few of the interesting factoids found within The Health Club Trend Report include:

• Another 25.5 million non-members used health clubs in 2004. They either paid a daily fee or gained access to a club via a hotel, hospital, on-site work facility, etc.;
• 25% of all health club members are aged 55+;
• 51% of all health club members are women;
• 60% of all health club members have earned four-year degrees from college.

The Health Club Trend Report is compiled from the SuperStudy® of Sports Participation, which is owned by SGMA. The Health Club Trend Report is conducted by American Sports Data, Inc. and sponsored by The International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).

To order The Health Club Trend Report, go to www.SGMA.com; click on Market Reports and Studies; click on the SGMA Publications 'drop down;' and scroll down till you see the Market Segment Reports sub-head…..under which you'll see the report listed.

SGMA International, owner of The Super Show® and the Sports Research Partnership, is the global business trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products industry. SGMA International enhances industry vitality and fosters sports, fitness, and active lifestyle participation. More information about SGMA International can be found at www.SGMA.com.