IHRSA releases 2023 Health and Fitness Consumer Report

December 22, 2023

The number of Americans who were members of a fitness facility in 2022 increased by 3.7% to 68.9 million consumers ages six and older, a record number for the industry, according to newly released information from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).

IHRSA’s newly released 2023 U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report also shows that overall facility users (members plus non-member users) climbed 8.1% to 82.7 million people.

Reporting that “data from 2022 suggests a positive outlook for health clubs and studios as memberships, average dues, and average attendance all increased compared to 2021”, IHRSA revealed that the member number is higher than in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic when the industry in the USA had 64.2 million members.

Sharing data about active USA consumers ages six and older, the report focuses mostly on their use of fitness facilities showing that, during the past few years, consumers have engaged in new health and wellness behaviours.

Commenting on this, IHRSA President and Chief Executive, Liz Clark stated "a growing number of Americans are joining gyms because they know that science confirms exercise's key role in improving physical and mental health.

"The data in this report helps operators identify key trends in consumer behaviour so they can remain in tune with consumers and better evaluate opportunities that exist today to better serve their communities and be successful."

Report highlights include:

Studio membership growth of 37%,
More members than ever belong to more than one facility type,
A drop in the age of the average member from 39 to 37 years old,
An increase in average membership dues from $58 per month to $59,
Growth in average attendance from 72 days to 75 days,
Higher visit rates among older members than younger adults,
Hispanic membership growth highest of any ethnicity,
Hispanic member dues highest of any ethnicity,
Treadmills, free weights (dumbbells/hand weights), and resistance machines remained the three most popular types of fitness equipment in 2022, and
The top three fitness activities were yoga, swimming, and high-intensity interval training.

The report is divided into chapters focused on membership trends, member usage and activity, and member demographics.

Data for the report, which focuses on people who used a fitness facility within the past 12 months, came from a rolling online survey of 18,000 people ages six and older conducted throughout 2022 by Sports Marketing Surveys USA.

Global strategy consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting then analysed the data and wrote the report.

Click here for more information on IHRSA’s 2023 U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report.

Image credit: Adobe Stock.

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