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Resilience in the
Fitness Sector
Findings from the 2009 FIA “State of the UK Fitness Industry” Audit
cerpted with permission from the IHRSA* Wellness Report, a newslet- ter provided to its member clubs. In this issue, we focus on the state of the health/fitness industry and associat- ed political changes that are affecting facility operators in the U.S. and U.K. during the current recession.
The UK’s $7 billion (CAD) fi tness indus- try is proving resil- ient with continued growth in demand, market value and new facilities. The 2009 Fitness Industry Association (FIA) “State of the UK Fitness Industry” fi gures, reporting performance for the 12 months ending March 31, 2009, reveal the robust nature of both the public and private fi tness sectors.
PROGRAMS AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT
FitAn encumbrance historically, the U.S. federal government is finally
The UK’s £3.77 billion fitness in- dustry is proving resilient in the economic climate with continued growth in demand, market value and new facilities. The 2009 FIA State of the UK ness Indust y figures, the only
ancial incentives that companies
can give employees for losing weight or previous 12 months.
CORPORATIONS PUSH WELLNESS
IHRSA Healthcare Report
Resilience in the
WELLNESS REPORT The following information is ex-
The following information is excerpted with permission from the IHRSA* Wellness Report, a newsletter provided to its member clubs. In this issue, we focus on the state of the health/fi tness industry and associated political changes that are aff ecting facility operators in the U.S. and U.K. during the current recession.
Fitness Sector
Findings from the 2009 FIA State of the UK Fitness Industry Audit
cluding better diet, more exercise, weight los and smoking cessation. Congress is seriously considering pro- posals to provide tax credits or other subsidies to employers who offer well- ness programs that meet federal cri- teria. In addition, lawmakers say they would make it easier for employers to use financial rewards or penalties to promote healthy behaviour among employees.
One of President Obama's eight
In a dead job market, unemployed hit the gym
principles for health legislation is that it must "invest in prevention and well- ness," a goal espoused in almost identi- cal words by Republican senators like John Cornyn of Texas and Orrin G. Hatch of Utah.
comprehensive audit of the UK fitness industry, reporting perfor- catching on that the private sector is
mance for the 12 months o 31s March 2009 are published and t tahkeing the initiative to attack health ectors.
-Market Value is estimated* at £3.77 billion, a 3% increase o kicking a smoking habit. It also treats sub -sidized gym memberships as tax-
Summary Picture
Market value is estimated at $7 billion, a 3% increase 12.1 per cent of the UK population are now members
of a public or private fi tness facility Membership numbers have grown by 0.8% 114 new public and private fi tness facilities opened 119,000 new members were recruited at these new
facilities
Private Sector
Private fi tness clubs have weathered the econom-
y reveal the robust nature of both the public and private fitness c sosts and that it needs to get out of the way. Federal law limits the number of
fin Summary Picture
e
12.1 per cent of the UK popula ion are now registered as members of able income. Health reformers want to remove the handcuffs. One of President month period.
a health and fitness club or publicly-owned fitness facility. -Like-for-like membership numbers have grown by 0.8% over the 12 Barack Obama's eight goals for health legi -slation is investment n wellness
114 new public and private fitness facilities opened in the 12 month and prevention. There is a flurry of leg- islation from both sides of the aisle.
period. -119,000 new members were recruited at these new fitness sites. Democratic senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Max Baucus of Montana want to grant tax credits for corporate well-
Frank B. McArdle, a health policy expert at Hewitt Associates, a benefits consulting firm, says, "Wellness and prevention programs have become a mainstream part of the benefits of- fered by large employers, and it's virtu- ally certain that Congress will include incentives for such programs" in its bill. The goals of such programs are to help people control blood pressure, fight obesity and manage diabetes and other chronic conditions.
NEW POLL FINDS DISEASE
Private Sector
The FIA State of the Fitness Industry figures highlight that private ness programs. Senator. John Cornyn,
health and fitness clubs have weathered the economic climate well R-Texas, is sponsoring the Workforce
ic climate well in comparison to other leisure sectors. An additional 64 new private clubs opened and 66,444 new members joined these facilities. Private clubs have grown their memberships steadily with a 1% member- ship increase. Membership fees remained steady with the average monthly fee being $81 compared with an average of $79 for the previous year. Market value of private clubs has therefore been able to grow, with a 3.2% increase to $5 billion.
Public Sector
There has also been growth in the public fi tness sec-
FOR HEALTHY HABITS In its effort to overhaul health care,
CONGRESS PLANS INCENTIVES
Public Sector
facilities during the 12 m nths to the end of March 2009. Private health-club memberships up to $900
in comparison to other leisure sectors. An additional 64 new private Health Improvement Program Act of
clubs opened in the UK and 66,444 new members joined these new 2009 to allow employers to subsidize
membership increase. Membership fees have remained steady with the average monthly fee being £42.91 compared with an av rage of £42.37 for the previous 12 month period. Market value of private people healthy.
PREVENTION IS TOP PRIORITY FOR AMERICANS IN HEALTH REFORM
In a dead job market, unemployed hit the gym
The following information is excerpted with permission from the IHRSA* Wellness Report, a newsletter provided to its member clubs. In thisn issue, we focus on the state of the health/fitness industry and associated political changes that are affecting facility operators in the U.S. and U.K. during the current recession.
When Richard Gill’s fi nancial consulting work came to a “screeching halt” in late January, he could easily have submitted to temptation and quit his fi tness club to save money. Instead, he has stuck with his membership and upped his number of weekly workouts. Gill is part of a growing trend as Americans grapple with the recession, says Equinox, which runs 48 gyms in the U.S. Gym usage among existing Equinox members grew as much as 15 percent in the fi rst quarter. Participation in classes that are included in the cost of the member- ship has increased by a similar amount, and the gym is adding more yoga classes to meet demand.
RESILIENCE IN THE FITNESS
In a survey released this month by Rodale Inc., the publisher
Inc., the publisher of Men’s Health and Runner’s World, 84 percent of those polled said despite the recession, there is no better time to invest in maintaining good health. The fitness club market will grow 2.2 percent this year, ac- cording to Los Angeles-based researcher IBISWorld Inc.
clubs have grown their memberships steadily with a 1% like-for-like annually.
clubs has therefore been able to grow, with a 3.2% increase to £2.70 billion.
tor with 50 new fi tness facilities opening and 52,534 new memberships. Memberships grew steadily a 0.4% increase. Market value grew by 2.3% to $2 billion.
18 Fitness Business Canada July/August 2009 18 Fitness Business Canada January/February 2009 18 Fitness Business Canada July/August 2009
There has also been growth in the public fitness sector with 50 new fitness facilities opened in the 12 months to the end of March U.S. Co gress is planning to give em- gyms.
2009, in the UK and 52,534 new memberships at these new public ployers sweeping new authority to re- war Ld employees for healt y behaviour,
Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a new public opinion survey today which finds that Americans rank prevention as the most important health care re- form priority and overwhelmingly sup- port increasing funding for prevention programs to reduce disease and keep
ike-for-like memberships grew more steadily in the public sector
with a 0.4% increase. The public sector market value grew by 2.3% in the 12 month period to £1.07 billion.
In the poll, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion S rategies, 70 percent of Americans ranked investing in pre- vention between an eight and 10 on a scale of zero to 10, where zero means not at all an important health care pri- ority and 10 means very important.
Corporations push wellness programs as a return on investment
Corporations push wellness programs as a return on investment
billion, a 3% increase on the previous 12 months. -12.1 per cent of the UK popula-
despite the recession, there is no better time to invest in maintaining good health. The fi tness club market will grow 2.2 percent this year, accord-
ing to Los Angeles-
tion are now registered as members of a health and fitness club or publicly- owned fitness facility. -Like-for-like membership num-
based researcher IBISWorld Inc.
An encumbrance historically, the U.S. federal government is fi nally catching on that the private sector is taking the initiative to attack health costs and that it needs to get out of the way. Federal law limits the number of fi nancial incentives that companies can give employees for losing weight or kicking a smoking habit. It also treats subsidized gym memberships as taxable income. Health reformers want to remove the handcuff s. One of Presi- dent Barack Obama’s eight goals for health legislation is invest- ment in wellness and prevention. There is a fl urry of legislation from both sides of the aisle. Democratic senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Max Baucus of Montana want to grant tax credits for corporate wellness programs. Senator. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is sponsoring the Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2009 to allow employers to subsidize health-club memberships up to $900 annually.
An encumbrance historically, the U.S. federal government is finally catching on that the private sector is taking the initiative to attack health costs and that it needs to get out of the way. Federal law limits the number of financial incentives that companies can give employees for losing weight or kicking a smoking habit. It also treats subsidized gym memberships as taxable income.
bers have grown by 0.8% over the 12 month period. -114 new public and private fit-
ness facilities opened in the 12 month period. -119,000 new members were recruit- ed at these new fitness sites.
Health reformers want to remove the handcuffs. One of President Barack Obama’s eight goals for health legislation is investment in wellness and prevention. There is a flurry of legislation from both sides of the aisle. Democratic senators Tom Harkin of Iowa and Max Baucus of Montana want to grant tax credits for corporate wellness programs. Senator. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is sponsoring the Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2009 to allow em- ployers to subsidize health-club memberships up to $900 annually.
Private Sector The FIA State of the Fitness Industry
figures highlight that private health and fitness clubs have weathered the economic climate well in comparison to other leisure sectors. An additional 64 new private clubs opened in the UK and 66,444 new members joined these new facilities during the 12 months to
Fitness Industry figures, the only com- prehensive audit of the UK fitness in- dustry, reporting performance for the 12 months to 31st March 2009 are published and they reveal the robust nature of both the public and private fitness sectors. Summary Picture -Market Value is estimated* at £3.77
The 2009 FIA State of the UK
of Men’s Health and Run-
ner’s World, 84 percent of those polled said
When Richard Gill’s financial consulting work came to a “screeching halt” in late January, he could easily have submitted to temptation. Gill is part of a growing trend as Americans grapple with the recession, says Equinox, which runs 48 gyms in the U.S., including four in the Chicago area. Gym usage among existing Equinox members grew as much as 15 percent in the first quarter. Participation in classes that are included in the cost of the membership has increased by a similar amount, and the gym is adding more yoga classes to meet demand. In a survey released this month by Rodale
Forty-six percent rated prevention as a 10 out of 10. Overall, prevention was rated higher than all other propos- als, including providing tax credits to small businesses and prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage based on health status.
SECTOR - FINDINGS FROM THE 2009 FIA STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY AUDIT
The UK's £3.77 billion fitness indus-
try is proving resilient in the economic climate with continued growth in de- mand, market value and new facilities.
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