Growth in Tubs and Clubs

The much-reported rise in obesity in the UK is being mirrored by a rapid expansion of health and fitness club membership, according to the latest research from Mintel. Private health and fitness clubs in the UK have an estimated 3.8 million members, more than double the figure for ten years ago but more significantly over a million up on last year.

2002 UK statistics suggest that last year one in five men and one in four women were obese, according to their body mass index. Furthermore the number of people who drink alcohol on a daily basis is on the increase, and the number of smokers has risen for the first time in four years, adding up to a perceived crisis in the nation's health.

The new research suggests that attitudes towards health and fitness are starting to change. A third of all adults in the UK are categorised as the 'fit', which Mintel define as those who see it as important to keep their body in shape by eating properly and doing exercise - up from a quarter in 1995, while the number of 'slobs' - those who think that too much attention is paid to keeping fit nowadays, has remained static over the same period of time.

According to Mark Brechin, Senior Leisure Analyst at Mintel, 'These results reflect the fact that more and more people are taking an active interest in their well-being ... becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of regular exercise and healthy eating'. However, perceptions of those benefits seem to differ widely: the biggest single motive given for attending a club, by one person in five, is to 'tone up or get conditioned' - this is especially popular among 20-34 year-olds and seems to be linked to finding boyfriends and girlfriends. Next on the list are 'to help with medical conditions' and 'to lose weight'.

One of the leading complaints made against health and fitness clubs is the expense. In 2002 over two in five adults felt that membership fees were overpriced. Competition has increased steadily over the past decade with an increase in the number of private clubs from just 1,990 in 1993 to some 2,850 this year, and this is forcing club owners to be more flexible about pricing, in particular with joining fees: 'In order to attract new members one in three clubs have now waived their joining fee all together, which in light of the consumer research seems to be a step in the right direction', says Mark Brechin.

However operators often claw back lost profits by raising the annual fees. Since 2001 the number of clubs with membership fees at the lower end of the price spectrum - those below £500 a year - has decreased, whilst those with higher membership fees have increased.

There is scope for continued growth in the sector - today nearly one in five adults use either a private or local authority health and fitness club. Furthermore the research also shows that in 2002 twice as many adults as were actually members would like to become or might consider becoming a member in the future. The fact that there has been a slight increase in the number of prospects since 2001 is also very encouraging.

Looking at the current rate of market growth, Mintel forecasts that the number of clubs is set to increase to over 3,300 by 2007. During the same period the number of members also expected to rise to an estimated 5.75 million people.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

• MINTEL
• All news
• MrWeb info