Boomers Regain Top Spot - baby boomers make up the largest percentage of health club clients - Statistical Data Included

The baby boom generation has finally surpassed Generation X to become the No. 1 age demographic in health clubs, according to the 1999 IHRSA/ASD Health Club Trend Report. The year 1999 closed with 30.6 million health club members in the United States, 38 percent of whom were age 35 to 54--up from 35 percent in 1998. By contrast, the percentage of members age 18 to 34 decreased from 36 percent in 1998 to 33 percent in 1999.

When compared to 1987 figures, this marks a sea of change in club members' age composition. Thirteen years ago, 53 percent of all health club members were age 18 to 34. Today, 55 percent of members are age 35 or older. The difference is even more pronounced in commercial health clubs, where 60 percent of members are age 35 and over (44.6 percent age 35 to 54, and 15.6 percent age 55+).

The current 35 to 54 age demographic is largely composed of the same baby boomers who comprised the lion's share of the 18 to 34 age group in 1987. As more boomers reach the age where the nest is empty and health concerns are rising, they have more time and more reason to join--or rejoin--health clubs.

From 1998 to 1999, the number of members age 35 to 54 grew by 13 percent (from 10,350,000 to 11,676,000), while the 18 to 34 group decreased 6 percent (from 10,678,000 to 9,931,000). Over the past 12 years, the former group has grown by 107 percent and the latter by only 9 percent.

However, this does not mean Gen Xers are slackers. In fact, 15.4 percent of those age 18 to 34 have health club memberships, up from 13.4 percent in 1987--the highest percentage of any group.

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH BY ACE (ALL CLUBS)

              1987         1998         1999      12-Year Increase

Under 18    1,395,000    3,559,000    3,637,000      160.6%
18-34       9,125,000   10,678,000    9,931,000        8.8%
35-54       5,290,000   10,350,000   11,676,000      107.2%
55+         1,541,000    4,896,000    5,313,000      244.8%
TOTAL      17,531,000   29,483,000   30,557,000       76.1%

The focus of the nation's aging population on improving their health coupled with the relatively small population number of the 18 to 34 age group is behind the trend of shifting health club demographics--a trend that is likely to continue for at least the next decade. As evidence, the number of health club members age 55+ has experienced explosive growth over the past 12 years, increasing by 245 percent from 1,541,000 to 5,313,000.

Membership Rate Grows Among less Affluent

The highest household income bracket (over $75,000) continues to represent the largest segment of the health club population (39 percent), accounting for 11.8 million members. The percentage of this affluent population belonging to clubs (19 percent) is much higher than for the population as a whole (12 percent). However, this percentage has been flat since 1996, while the rate of membership among the less affluent has grown significantly in the same period.

One-Year Growth Largely Due to Women

Women continue to represent the majority of overall health club members, accounting for 52 percent in 1999. The percentage is slightly higher in commercial clubs, where women constituted 55 percent of all members--up from 50 percent in 1998.

While growth in membership for men and women has been equally dramatic since 1987 (71 percent and 81 percent, respectively), women accounted for virtually all growth over the past year at clubs in general (6 percent vs. 1 percent for men). Even more striking is the 26 percent growth in female memberships at commercial clubs from 1998 (6.8 million) to 1999 (8.6 million), as compared to 6 percent growth for men (from 6.8 million to 7.2 million).

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH BY GENDER (COMMERCIAL CLUBS)

                                  One Year
              1998         1999   Increase

Men      6,792,000    7,190,000       6%

Women    6,825,000    8,616,000      26%

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH BY GENDER (ALL CLUBS)
                                               One Year
              1987         1998         1999   Increase

Men      8,277,000   13,974,000   14,110,000    70.5%

Women    9,074,000   15,509,000   16,447,000    81.3%

TOTAL   17,351,000   29,483,000   30,557,000    76.1%

RELATED ARTICLE: TOP 10 States Claim 40 Percent of Members

TOP 10 States
Claim 40 Percent
of Members

1999   1998       STATE       1999 NUMBER OF  1999 PARTICIPANTS
RANK   RANK                    PARTICIPANTS    PER 100 PEOPLE

 1      1      California       4,874,000          16.7
 2      4        Nevada           200,000          16.7
 3      2       Colorado          715,000          16.5
 4      22      Tennessee         763,000          16.2
 5      12        Texas         2,651,000          15.3
 6      27       Oregon           721,000          15.0
 7       6    Massachusetts       744,000          14.9
 8      48       Alabama          487,000          14.7
 9      23     New Jersey       1,093,000          14.7
 10     21    New Hampshire       163,000          14.5