Health and fitness clubs in the U.S. are at a crossroads. While the number of clubs continues to grow, membership and revenue growth have not kept pace, leading to noticeable declines in revenues per member. In 2005, total U.S. club membership reached an estimated 43.2 million while overall industry revenue totaled $15.6 billion, reflecting revenue growth of 19% from 2000 in constant 2005 prices. However, at $361, revenues per member declined by 10% during that same period when measured in constant 2005 prices.

In this incredibly competitive market, leading players have begun to consolidate and change ownership, a trend that has been exacerbated by the large number of private equity firms with stakes in fitness chains. The harsher competition has also led fitness clubs to add a broader range of offerings, including everything from yoga to Pilates to more exotic workouts inspired by fireman drills or hip-hop dance.

In this report, Mintel clearly identifies the principal external factors driving or curtailing growth. Exclusive consumer research reveals the attitudes, needs and behavior of consumers, with analysis broken down both by demographic characteristics, and by segment.

Six years of specific sales data provide a factual and impartial presentation of the market as a whole. Mintel also evaluates the performance of individual sectors in the market, and provides information about the major companies and brands. Using the SPSS forecasting package, Mintel creates a five-year forecast of U.S. retail sales, revealing potential opportunities for growth and product development.

This report covers the market for private/commercial clubs as well as non-profit health and fitness clubs.

Mintel defines private and commercial health and fitness clubs as those being operated by an individual or corporate, for-profit organization. Non-profit health and fitness clubs are defined as those facilities that offer health and fitness memberships to consumers yet do not profit from these memberships.

This report does not include public health and fitness clubs operated by, or on behalf of, a local authority, such as a gymnasium and other facilities founded for public leisure, such as community fitness centers or public swimming complexes.