Mintel Research on the Overweight and Unfit

The report identifies the current trend as being driven by concerns about obesity, stress and fitness. The unearthed facts show that a growing number of people are now defined as overweight or obese. Almost half of all men are thought to be chubby, while one in five are actually obese. More than half of all women are carrying surplus weight as well.

Ongoing high levels of stress is identified as the other main motivator to sign up, with half of all adults currently claiming to be suffering with some level of anxiety and tension. Using a wide range of exercise activities and alternative therapies to combat both problems is, according to the research, becoming increasingly the norm.

Mintel's specific consumer research into the full range of reasons for becoming a paid up member confirms this view. The survey found that the single most popular reason for joining a health and fitness club is to tone up/get conditioned (26%). Women are almost twice as likely as men to join in order to lose weight. At the same time, a minority (7%) of adults feel that clubs do not cater for those who are overweight or fat, with a slightly higher level (14%) claiming they would feel out of place.

The research also reveals that, on the whole, British attitudes to health and fitness are positive. Only 7% of respondents admitted to being slobs. However, those who make up the largest group of adults fall in to the "healthy in mind sector" (32%). This category of consumers admits that they try to keep fit but find it difficult. Women are more likely than men to be represented here (35%). Variations in attitude can also be seen by age, with the fit category peaking among the 15 to 19 age group and the over 55's.

When asked as to their main concerns as club users, the major issue to emerge was possible overpricing. Half of all respondents claimed that most memberships of health and fitness clubs are overpriced - this having risen by some 8 percentage points since 1999. Those consumers most likely to resent high costs are those aged between 20 to 24.

Mintel's research concludes that, overall, consumers' attitudes towards their health clubs are dependent upon their own individual lifestyle requirements. For example, women (30%) are twice as likely as men (17%) to view a crèche as an important facility at a club. In addition, those respondents who had been members of a gym in the past and wanted to rejoin were the most likely to support a crèche suggesting that childcare problems were restricting their sports activities.