US Health and Fitness Club Market 2026 – 2035

Reports Description

The market size of the health and fitness clubs within the US is estimated to be USD 45.8 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to between USD 48.2 billion in 2026 and USD 71.5 billion in 2035 at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2026 to 2035.

The growing number of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes, the growing interest in health following the pandemic, an aging population, which is the target market of preventative healthcare services, the integration of technology that allows implementing a hybrid model of fitness, the increase of disposable incomes, which allow people to spend money on wellness, and the development of corporate wellness programs contribute to market development.

Market Highlight

• The US will be chosen as having about 31% of the total fitness club market share of the world by 2025, and it will continue to be the largest single country-based market in the world in terms of health and fitness services.

• By the type of facility, the traditional gyms and full-service fitness centers took nearly 39% of the market share in the year 2025, estimated to be USD 102.2 billion worldwide.

• By type of facility, digital and connected fitness has the highest CAGR, of 23.2% between the years 2026 and 2035, due to the use of Subscription-based services and the adoption of connected fitness equipment.

• Through end users, the adult market (25-54) has generated the largest market share of 54% in the year 2025, whereas the senior segment (55+) is the segment expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecasted period of 2026-2035.

• By membership model, monthly subscriptions are leading the market share by 68% in 2025, and yearly memberships with premium add-ons have a CAGR of 6.5%.

Significant Growth Factors

The US Health and Fitness Club Market Trends present significant growth opportunities due to several factors:

• Escalating Chronic Disease Burden and Preventative Health Prioritization:

Soaring isolation and occurrence of chronic health problems and the epidemic of obesity are the greatest contributors to the US health and fitness club market since millions of Americans are in need of preventive measures that can only be offered through exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that more than 70% of Americans over 20 years old are overweight or obese, which is a national health crisis with an estimated 180 million people who need to change their lifestyle, including physical activities. The number of people and employers increasingly investing in preventive fitness options due to the rising cost of medical treatment as an alternative to annual economical costs associated with obesity-related healthcare.

The number one cause of mortality in the United States is cardiovascular disease but according to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke caused 40.3% of all fatalities in 2021, which translates to 17.9 million deaths worldwide every year and sustained demand on cardiovascular fitness programs, aerobic exercise facilities, and cardiovascular health measuring services. The reality of the increasing number of metabolic disorders is also noteworthy, as more than 537 million adults around the world are diagnosed with diabetes and about 38.4 million Americans (11.6% of the population) are affected by diabetes, and exercise is a primary disease management approach. The COVID-19 pandemic also greatly increased the pace of health awareness and, as a consequence, produced a secular shift in consumer attitudes towards fitness and wellness with studies continually associating frequent exercise with reduced exposure to chronic diseases, better mental health outcomes, immunity, and longer life. This increased awareness has led to a long period of membership growth in which the US fitness club membership has hit an all time high of 77 million in 2024, with 6% annual growth and a 24% penetration rate of the population 6 years and above.

The number of visits to the gym in 2024 grew 8% annually, which means that the number of members joining and using the facilities more actively exceeds the pre-pandemic trends. This demand is increased by the increase in the aging population of the Baby Boomers, the World Health Organization has estimated that the global population of those 60 and above is going to increase to 1.4 billion in 2030 compared to 1.1 billion in 2023, and these elderly are particularly target oriented to quality of life, mobility, and independence through regular exercise. Older adult functional fitness programs focused on balance, strength, and fall prevention are undergoing tremendous development since fitness clubs are modifying their services to meet the particular demands of the aging groups. The acknowledgement of exercise as an important preventative measure similar to other preventative measures, and not a discretionary luxury generates long-term demand for fitness services among all demographic groups.

• Technology Integration and Digital Transformation Revolution:

The fitness industry has fundamentally transformed with technological integration, offering a hybrid approach that brings physical experiences to fit the convenience of technology, offering personalized workout suggestions by using AI, and establishing connected fitness systems to keep track of progress across multiple platforms. Digital fitness has fully emerged, with the US connected fitness services market estimated at USD 1.25 billion currently with estimated projections of USD 7.61 billion by 2033, which is an incredible 23.2% CAGR.

The wearable fitness technology such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, and smart clothing is expected to grow at a 27.8 CAGR between 2025 and 2033 with the market valued at USD 61.3 billion as of 2022 that would allow the continuous use of both personal health monitoring and gym equipment to monitor all workouts. Gym management software has also simplified operational effectiveness and helped save on costs with automated scheduling systems, a membership management platform, built-in payment processing, and facility maintenance tracking that help in maximizing resource allocation. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to provide personal workout suggestions to customers according to their individual performance and goals, form correction in real time using camera vision technology, predictive analytics to increase member retention by identifying members under threat, and automatic personalization of marketing to increase engagement.

The social functionality of creating leaderboards, virtual competitions, community discussion forums, and sharing achievements has been successful in maintaining motivation and a sense of responsibility, especially within younger age groups that appreciate digital connectivity and games. Virtual reality and AR fitness are new-generation technologies that provide a sense of immersion by providing an environment, gamified exercise programs, and virtual training sessions that increase engagement and fun and reduce the feeling of exertion.

• Holistic Wellness and Mental Health Integration:

The fitness sector has broadened its area of operation and has added holistic wellness, mental health support, nutrition consulting, recovery services, stress management programs, and opportunities to connect socially to the overall service provision to cover every aspect of wellbeing. This trend reflects the increasing consumer awareness of the idea of wellness as a mental, emotional, and social phenomenon in addition to physical fitness, and studies have shown that regular exercise can have a positive impact on mood, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase cognitive abilities and provide stress relief close to or even greater than pharmacological treatments in many people. Gyms are adding mindfulness classes, meditation areas, yoga sessions focused on mind-body connection and recovery-oriented experiences including stretching sessions, foam rolling workshops, cryotherapy rooms, infrared saunas and massage treatments to promote muscular recovery and stress relief.

The data presented by Google Trends reveals a steady increase in search traffic regarding such terms of holistic health and wellness as mental health fitness, wellness center, and recovery studio, which demonstrates the mainstream acceptance of the holistic approach to wellness past the traditional exercise program. Gyms are creating inclusive environments and developing non-judgmental cultures that focus on making members feel comfortable and psychologically safe, and most operators are surveying their members to pinpoint areas of the gym culture that might turn them off. This will also be used to acknowledge that positive mental and emotional experiences that members will experience during and after workouts are major contributors to retention of facilities in the long term, retention satisfaction, and recommendations to others.

The combination of nutrition counseling services either brought in house with registered dietitians or a collaboration with nutrition platforms resolves the root cause between exercise and diet results by helping members manage their weight, performance, and health more efficiently than exercising alone. Premium fitness includes mental health support services such as licensed therapists, stress management workshops, and referrals to mental health professionals since physical and mental health are intrinsically connected and total wellness means that both aspects should be taken care of. The wellness programs being implemented by corporations are more about holistic health and the employers are collaborating with the fitness clubs to advance employee wellness in a comprehensive manner, based on the premise of saving healthcare expenditure, increasing productivity, and lowering absenteeism, as well as increasing employee satisfaction and retention.

• Demographic Shifts and Generational Fitness Preferences:

Millennials and Gen Z are causing profound changes in the purchasing habits of fitness, working out more than the past generations, requiring customized experiences based on their personal goals and preferences, seeking purpose-driven brands that reflect social and environmental values, and disliking the inflexible, membership-based business models. These groups that reflect more than 140 million Americans place greater emphasis on health and wellness, with 79% of these groups citing it as a priority, have quickened the pace of using digital fitness platforms that offer convenience and variety, embrace wearable technologies to track their performance and set goals, and prefer the experience in a smaller boutique-style studio that provides a sense of community and programming with a focus. They enjoy authenticity in their brand messages, desire socialization and community membership in their fitness activities, and are willing to pay higher prices for differentiated experiences that provide them with perceived value via excellent coaching, unique programming, or luxurious facilities. At the same time, the fitness industry is expanding its target market to reach older adults, as the aging Baby Boomer population is being identified as a huge and untapped growth potential in terms of being 73 million people that are now in their 60s and 70s with a large amount of disposable income and a strong desire to remain healthy and independent and have a good life. The facilities are designing specific programs that are focused on low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling, and elliptical training, functional training that focuses on the activities of daily living, strength training, bone density, muscle mass maintenance, fall prevention with balance and flexibility, and social activities dealing with loneliness and isolation that older adults face. Incentives have been provided on senior fitness programs such as SilverSneakers by many insurance providers and now have Medicare Advantage plans which provide this large group of people as an accessible and profitable market to fitness clubs but also help advance the public health goals. SilverSneakers is a free fitness center access program applicable to over 18 million qualified older adults and is an excellent source of foot traffic and ancillary revenue potential in the facilities where it operates. Another emerging niche is youth and teen programming, and the facilities are now building age-specific strength training programs, sports performance training, adolescent-based group fitness classes, and family fitness programs that allow several generations to work out together at the same time, which form a lifetime fitness habit and family membership base.

• Budget Fitness Expansion and Market Democratization:

Whether by the rise of high-volume, low-price (HVLP) fitness clubs, access to fitness facilities has become democratic, and, in fact, many barriers to entry in the traditional sense, such as expensive membership, intimidating gym atmosphere, and limiting contracts that previously barred many Americans from joining fitness clubs, have been removed. The segment leader, Planet Fitness, has more than 2,400 franchise units in all 50 states with around 19.7 million members as of 2024, which is up by 9.4%, or 18 million compared to 18 million in 2023 and has the largest US gym membership base. The Judgment Free Zone marketing philosophy of the company, which is excessively cheap with a basic membership at USD 15 per month and a high-end Black Card membership at USD 25; the absence of commitments, where people can opt to cancel their membership at any month, and its beginner-friendly atmosphere have been especially effective in attracting first-time gym users, who comprise half of people joining the company.

The number of HVLP operators alone contributed over 42% to total US fitness club growth within the 2019 to 2024 timeframe, with the total operators representing well over 60% of the growth in the same time frame, proving the huge market demand of low-cost, low-end fitness clubs. Other notable HVLP players are Crunch fitness that has more than 500 locations with expansion ambitions of 100 locations in 2014, ESC which plans to open 250 locations by 2030; Chuze which is expanding in the West; and Workout Anytime, which is franchising across the Southeast. These operators will usually charge USD 10-30/month, have facilities 20,000-50,000 square feet, much smaller and lower-cost than the traditional full-service gyms of 50,000-100,000 square feet, and make a profit on large-scale memberships, low cost of operations, and maximizing the use of real estate on secondary locations with lower lease rates. The success of the HVLP model proves that there is a big market opportunity amongst the price-sensitive consumers unable to afford gym club membership due to their inability to pay more than USD 25 per month in gym clubs, and some 40% of the gym goers in the market who pay less than USD 25 per month indicate that there is high demand at lower prices. HVLP operators are attractive in terms of volume despite the reduced profit per member, with top clubs operating with 5,000 to 10,000 members per location compared with traditional gyms with 1,500 to 3,000 members, and operating costs are lower due to smaller size of facilities, fewer employees, minimal amenities, and standard operations.

What are the Major Advances Changing the US Health and Fitness Club Market Today?

• Personalized Training and AI-Powered Fitness Coaching:

The shift towards personalized fitness programming is also among the most influential tendencies in the redesign of the industry, as training becomes more focused on the specific objectives of the members, their fitness level, movement behavior, and physiological reactions and becomes more effective, with fewer injuries and the lack of frustration in the members. Machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence process the data about members such as workout history, performance metrics, biometric measurements, and goals that are stated to give customized workout recommendations that evolve dynamically with progress, recovery status, and future objectives.

The application of computer vision technology in the form of cameras and sensors provides real-time form feedback, which identifies the movement compensations and technique errors that may cause injury and also provides corrective coaching feedback that enhances the exercise performance and outcomes. Smartwatches, heart rate monitors and fitness trackers are wearable gadgets that work hand in hand with gym equipment and mobile apps, offering around-the-clock physiological feedback to allow specific settings in training based on heart rate zones, caloric expenditure, and recovery measures. Genetic testing services are also surfacing as instruments towards the highly personalized programming, in which genetic markers associated with power versus endurance predisposition, optimum ratios of macronutrients, susceptibility to injury, and recovery needs are analyzed so that the trainers can devise the most appropriate programs in the most appropriate ways to match the individual physiology.

The virtual personal training system links the members with licensed trainers via video conferencing technology where customized training is done at reduced prices compared to the conventional in-person training whilst upholding accountability and professional guidance that enhance compliance and outcomes. Such technological innovations make individualized training accessible to a wider audience beyond only wealthy people who can afford the services of personal trainers, with AI-driven platforms offering customized programming at massive scale with a monthly subscription fee of USD 10-30 in lieu of USD 50-150 per session of human trainers.

• Boutique Fitness Studio Proliferation and Community-Centric Models:

The rapid expansion of the boutique fitness studio can be viewed as a fundamental change in fitness consumption, as the specialized facilities centering on a particular type of workout (spinning, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), barre, pilates, boxing, or rowing) focus on the less involved community interaction, motivational coaching, and immersion experiences that are not present in the traditional gym setting. Boutique fitness market is worth USD 51.6 billion worldwide and is growing at 7.6%/year due to the population, which prefers specialized programming in small-group settings (10-30 people), enhancing personalization unattainable in the context of the large gym and allowing it to remain affordable by sharing the costs of the instructor.

The cult following, candlelit spin studios, celebrity instructors, and USD 30-40 per class pricing of SoulCycle made indoor cycling more of a lifestyle experience vs. an exercise experience and showed a significant willingness of consumers to pay premium prices to experience differentiated fitness. Orangetheory Fitness has reached an impressive scale, having more than 1,500 outlets, and provides science-based HIIT fitness in the form of heart rate monitoring technology, which manages the members with fixed 60-minute sessions on treadmill, rowing, and strength training stations at USD 59-199+ a monthly fee. F45 Training provides functional training in teams (45 minutes and a combination of cardio and strength training) and has expanded to more than 4,000 studios across the world based on the franchise model that promotes rapid growth and branding uniformity. Merging Orangetheory Fitness with Self Esteem Brands in March 2024, any of the 7,000 locations of Anytime Fitness and Basecamp Fitness created a USD 3.5 billion company, representing industry consolidation and the high enterprise value of scalable boutique concepts. The solution to the discovery issues was ClassPass, which bundled the studio capacity into one marketplace platform and offered the members thousands of studios in various modalities by charging monthly credits as USD 29 per 27 credits.

• Strength Training Emphasis and Functional Fitness Programming:

Resistance exercise has been associated with a 23% decrease in all-cause mortality, an increase in bone density that lowers the risk of osteoporosis, and a high metabolic rate that helps maintain weight, making resistance training a prevalent trend in fitness, and resistance training has been found to increase strength, which improves activities of daily living and athletic performance in all ages. This evidence-based call has caused the extensive funding in strength training apparatus such as free weights, barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance machines, functional training rigs, and suspension systems of all types of facilities, including low-end gyms to high-end clubs. Functional fitness programs with less emphasis on athletic movements that enhance real-world activities and athletics have gained specific popularity, and special training stations are becoming the norm of modern facilities that include equipment items like battle ropes, medicine balls, agility ladders, plyo boxes, and TRX suspension trainers.

The trend of functional training and strength use is an extension of changes in fitness philosophy that abandoned aesthetic aims based on appearance for achievements, endurance, and injury prevention that provide real quality of life benefits. The growing involvement of women in strength training is a major demographic trend, since studies have disproven claims of bulking up and proven that resistance training offers better body composition, metabolic effects, and bone health results than cardio-only exercises. Facilities are reacting by developing environments focused on women’s strength training, recruiting female personal trainers who are specialized in female strength training, and developing programs that specifically address the training issues of women, such as their menstrual cycles, training during pregnancy and postpartum, and the hormonal changes during menopause that contribute to training response.

The emergence of powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and strongman training as leisure activities as opposed to elite sports has led to the introduction of specialized training facilities and training programs, and most of the old-style gyms have introduced specialized strength platforms, competition-quality barbells, and bumper plates to cater to this new market segment. Of particular concern is the increase in popularity of strength training among older adults, where studies have already proved that resistance exercise can reverse age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), enhance balance and coordination that provides fall prevention, increase bone density that prevents osteoporotic fractures, and increase functional independence that allows older adults to continue to perform functional tasks without any assistance.

• Premium Wellness Experiences and Luxury Fitness Positioning:

On the high end of the market spectrum, the luxury fitness clubs have deemed a very lucrative niche by providing resort-like experiences, including high-end amenities, full-service wellness solutions, and personal attention that warrant USD 150 to USD 350 and above in monthly membership fees. Life Time Fitness has been a leader in the premium segment with around 170 locations with large facilities of 120,000+ square feet, which offer members the latest fitness apparatus, numerous pools (lap and leisure pools), full service spas, rock climbing walls, basketball and racquetball courts, pilates and yoga studios, childcare centers, co-working work environments, juice bars and healthy cafes, and high quality locker room facilities (eucalyptus steam rooms and free towel service). Life Time has recorded revenue growth of 19% in Q3 2024 with monthly average membership fees of USD 198, and totaling USD 693.2 million indicating a strong demand for the superior fitness experiences amid economic uncertainty. Equinox Holdings has a presence of about 100 locations around the world and can be classified as the most luxurious fitness brand, with membership fees of USD 185-350 per month depending on the location and access level and a USD 300 or more upfront fee, which appeals to high-income professionals who represent the target market of the ultimate fitness lifestyle brand.

The distinction of Equinox is exceptional design and aesthetics with marble finishing and designer furnishings, partnerships only with luxury brands, high-profile instructors and trainers, and comprehensive programs with signature group fitness classes, one-on-one training, and integration of wellness into hospitality. The high-end market targets mainly high-income earners with an income of USD 100,000+ per year who consider fitness an important aspect of their lifestyle and would give up money to invest in it; professionals who need an all-inclusive destination giving them the opportunity to exercise, carry out business, socialize, and relax without going outside the facility and those who are status conscious and will find prestigious affiliation with a brand worth social signaling. Premium clubs have fairly high club density per club, with the average being 2,000-4,000 members per club as opposed to 5,000-10,000 in a budget club, allowing them to offer better experiences to their members due to reduced crowding, higher service quality, and higher amenities to justify the higher prices. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that the premium fitness positioning was very resilient, and luxury clubs had a more rapid recovery of membership than the budget segments, meaning that the consumers with high income consider investing in fitness even when faced with economic uncertainty and think that premium quality experiences justify higher prices.

Category Wise Insights

By Facility Type

Why Traditional Gyms Lead the Market?

According to 2025, the biggest segment will be the traditional gym and full-service fitness facility with an approximation of 39% of the total market share. This pre-eminence indicates their all inclusive amenity services, wide appeal across the demographic divides, brand identity, and capability to meet the various needs of members in the same premises. The traditional gyms prevail because of their diversified profiles of equipment, such as a wide range of cardiovascular machines, full-service strength training equipment, free weight zones, and functional training zones, in addition to offering group fitness classes, swimming pools, basketball courts, and other services that offer full services to families and individuals with different interests. The fact that it has the capacity to serve various fitness and objectives in individual membership is what renders the conventional gyms especially appealing to families where two or more members use the same membership, establishing a sense of unity.

high perceptions of value as compared to membership fees ranging between USD 30-60 per month. The market leading chains, such as LA Fitness with more than 700, 24 Hour Fitness with more than 280 and Gold’s gym with about 600 all have many years of brand building, strategic real estate holdings in major retail areas and operational experience in multiple business cycles. The 24-hour access business model that was initiated by 24 Hour Fitness and Anytime Fitness serves the demands of the shift workers, early morning exercisers and late-night gym-goers who are unable to use the facilities during the normal working hours, and these businesses are increasing the number of individuals who can be served and increasing the satisfaction of the members with the added convenience. The traditional gyms enjoy the membership inertia, as average membership years of 4.7 years are a sign of strong lifetime value per member to cover the facilities investment and the operating costs and to secure a stable stream of recurring revenues.

Digital and connected fitness represents the fastest-growing segment with anticipated CAGR of 23.2% from 2026 to 2035

Supported by subscription-based services with unlimited on-demand and live-streamed fitness programs priced at USD 10-40/month, integrated fitness equipment to facilitate immersive home workouts, wearable technology to offer comprehensive health and fitness tracking, and hybrid fitness models as a combination of face-to-face access to the gym with a digital library of classes. The COVID-19 pandemic forever hastened the adoption of digital fitness, and consumers found comfort and home workouts to be convenient and flexible without the need to cancel the gym membership due to social interaction, access to specialized equipment, and in-person guidance, ensuring that the hybrid solutions would be maintained long-term. Although it has been recently affected by such issues as low hardware sales and slower growth of the subscription, Peloton proved the existence of the connected fitness market and showed that many consumers are ready to spend money on high-quality home equipment and monthly subscriptions. The virtual fitness industry, which is estimated to have USD 16.4 billion in 2022, is predicted to increase with the 26.72% CAGR up to 2030 to include fitness applications, virtual training platforms, and streaming services that provide professional training without physical facilities.

By End User

Why Adults Dominate Fitness Club Membership?

The highest segment will be adults between 25-54 who will provide around 54% of the market share in 2025. This leadership illustrates various aspects such as the maximum earning period, which brings spare time to spend on fitness activities, settled career workers who are health conscious to stay productive and energetic; and family obligations that force parents to be role models and more health conscious on the issue of preventing chronic diseases in middle age.

The adult market is the most active in terms of gym utilization, and the frequency of visits is 2-3 times per week, which proves a high involvement and benefits of membership spending that justify retention and lifetime value. This market is further divided into several subcategories such as young professionals (25-34) who seek social fitness experiences at boutique studios and trendy gyms, established professionals (35-44) who balance their family and careers and prefer efficient workouts and convenience, and pre-retirement individuals (45-54) who are more conscious of preserving their health and preventing chronic diseases and ageing. Adults show the greatest average expenditure per member, having premium memberships with higher dues, buying personal training packages averaging USD 50-150 per session, and spending on ancillary services such as nutrition coaching, massage therapy, and wellness programs, which are likely to generate money above the base membership fees. The corporate wellness programs are mainly focused on the adult workers and generate B2B revenues in the form of subsidized memberships, on-site fitness centers, and health reward schemes that generate high numbers of members at low customer acquisition expenses.

The fastest growth is among the seniors (55+) with a CAGR of 7.8% between 2026 and 2035, due to aging Baby Boomer populations with 73 million Americans in their 60s and 70s, increasing awareness that exercise keeps them lively and independent, insurance benefits such as Medicare Advantage plans that include fitness memberships via programs such as SilverSneakers that services 18 million of its members in their 60s and 70s, and fitness clubs designing senior-specific programs such as low-impact classes. Seniors are especially attractive members since they use the facilities during high daytime periods when the facilities are not fully consumed, and thus there are lower rates of cancellation, indicating their commitment to the membership, they have the capability to pay annual membership reducing the cost of processing payments and finally; due to their high discretionary income, the affluent retirees are willing to spend money on health and longevity.

Report Scope

Economic Impact Analysis

How Significant is the Industry’s Economic Contribution?

The health and fitness club sector in the US constitutes a huge part of the economy that provides a significant contribution to the employment market, real estate development, equipment production, and other related service providers such as nutrition, wellness, and healthcare. In 2022, the industry directly presented more than 887,000 employees in club activities, personal training, group fitness teaching, membership sales, maintenance of facilities, and administration, regaining its pandemic-era levels when about 1.4 million industry employees (44%) were laid off as the facilities were shut down. The employment multiplier of the industry at about 2.5 indicates that every single direct fitness industry job results in an addition of 1.5 jobs in the supply chains of equipment manufacturers, cleaning services, laundry services, building and maintenance contractors, and professional services. The wages of the fitness industry are also significantly dependent on roles, with personal trainers earning USD 40,000-80,000, group fitness instructors earning USD 25,000-60,000, club managers earning USD 50,000-100,000 and entry level workers including front desk and maintenance workers, earning USD 25,000-35,000 in terms of salaries, which creates a significant contribution to the employment roles of the middle classes. The business positively impacts a high level of real estate demand with 41,000+ fitness centers in the country as anchor tenants, occupying hundreds of millions of square feet of commercial real estate that generates lease payments over USD 5 billion annually and becomes the reason for other related retail such as healthy restaurants, smoothie bars, athletic apparel stores, and wellness services.

What is the Industry’s Role in Public Health Infrastructure?

Fitness club business is critical infrastructure of the health sector that offers convenient areas of physical exercise to lower the burden of chronic diseases, healthcare expenditure, and the morbidity rates within populations. Studies have shown members of the gym exercise much more than non-members, and regular exercisers are 30-40% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, 30-50% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, 20-30% less likely to have some types of cancer, and have much better mental health outcomes, such as less depression and anxiety.

The growth of the industry in underserved areas such as low-income communities, rural areas, and regions with a high prevalence of obesity opens access that promotes health equity by offering affordable fitness opportunities to the population with the highest burden of chronic disease. Through Fitness club and employer corporate wellness programs, employee health benefits that result in reduced absenteeism (25-30), higher productivity (10-20), and lower healthcare expenses (USD 3-6 per dollar invested), according to various studies, have been shown to save employers a lot of money and greatly benefit population health. Medicare-based programs like SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active give fitness benefits to elderly individuals, linking 18+ million older adults to fitness centers and establishing public-private partnerships that enhance active aging and reduce healthcare use and expenditure on inactive living and chronic illness management.

Top Players in the Market

• Planet Fitness Inc.
• LA Fitness
• Life Time Inc.
• 24 Hour Fitness
• Equinox Holdings
• Anytime Fitness LLC
• Crunch Fitness
• Gold’s Gym International
• Orangetheory Fitness
• F45 Training
• CrossFit
• SoulCycle
• Barry’s Bootcamp
• Club Pilates
• Peloton Interactive
• Others

Key Developments

The market has undergone significant developments as industry participants seek to expand capabilities, enhance member experiences, and capitalize on growth opportunities.

• In January 2025: Planet Fitness indicated its intention to launch 150+ new stores in 2025 following an acceleration of its expansion policy to target underserved markets in Southern and Midwestern states and upgraded facilities with more equipment and functional training spaces.

• In February 2022: Life Time will launch a new flagship in the suburban Chicago area, 150,000-square-foot of amenity services, such as an Olympic pool, a rock climbing wall, a full-service spa, co-working spaces, and high-quality childcare facilities, showing commitment to investing in luxury wellness experiences even in economically challenging times.

• In July 2024: LA Fitness acquired XSport Fitness, comprising 35 outlets in the New York, Chicago, and Virginia markets, extending into competitive markets in the Northeast and Midwest and consolidating fragmented markets.

The strategy activities have enabled the firms to consolidate marketplaces, gain geographic presence, improve on technological abilities, and take advantage of growth prospects in the growing market.

The US Health and Fitness Club Market is segmented as follows:

By Facility Type

• Traditional Gyms and Full-Service Centers
• Budget Fitness Clubs (HVLP Model)
• Premium/Luxury Fitness Clubs
• Boutique Fitness Studios
  • Spinning/Cycling Studios
  • HIIT Training Studios
  • Barre Studios
  • Pilates Studios
  • Boxing/Kickboxing Studios
  • Yoga Studios
• Digital and Connected Fitness

By Service Type

• Individual Memberships
• Group Fitness Classes
• Personal Training Services
• Wellness and Recovery Services
• Corporate Wellness Programs

By End User

• Adults (25-54 years)
• Seniors (55+ years)
• Youth and Teens (6-24 years)
• Corporate Clients

By Membership Model

• Monthly Subscriptions
• Annual Memberships
• Pay-Per-Visit
• Class Packages
• Hybrid Models