`Broadening' of Fitness Movement a Key Trend of '90s, Says 1998 Edition of Annual Report on American Exercise.

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla.--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 5, 1998--

Women and Free Weights; Seniors In the Health Club; Equipment at Home;

New Motives, Classes and Machines

Significant changes have occurred during the 1990s in the way Americans feel about exercise and how they participate, according to the 1998 edition of "Tracking the Fitness Movement," just published by the Fitness Products Council.

"The fitness movement has broadened considerably in the past decade," said Gregg Hartley, executive director of FPC. "Exercise has moved beyond its key age group of young adults to include millions of aging boomers and growing numbers of seniors. Fitness equipment has moved out of the commercial health club and into homes, offices and hotels. The motivations for exercising have broadened from sheer vanity to also include health and quality of life."

Here are eight "major trends of the '90s" identified by the report (unless otherwise indicated, statistics are from annual surveys by American Sports Data Inc.).

1) Use of exercise equipment has boomed. In 1997, 67.3 million Americans worked out on aerobic equipment, 63% more than the 41.2 million in 1987.

2) Females embrace weight training. The number of females who used free weights more than doubled between 1987 and 1997, from 7.4 million to 16.8 million.

3) Treadmills on popularity run. In 1987, 4.4 million Americans used a treadmill; in 1997, it was 36.1 million.

4) Club memberships climb. The number of Americans who belong to a health club increased 63%, to 22.5 million in 1997. Fastest growing age group 35 to 54.

5) Surge in home equipment. A 1997 FPC survey found that exercise equipment is owned and used in nearly one-third of U.S. households.

6) Baby boomers keep on truckin'. They invented the fitness movement and they are staying involved. In 1987, 4.1 million people aged 35 to 54 used free weights; in 1997 it was 12 million.

7) Exercise machines and classes diversify. The '90s have been a decade of abundant innovation in fitness.

8) Personal trainers emerge. In 1991, 3,183 people took an exam to be certified as a personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise. This year 15,000 people will take the exam.

"As encouraging as these statistics are," said Hartley, "There's another research finding that may be even more important. Surveys have shown repeatedly that the vast majority of Americans understand the benefits of exercise and believe they should get involved."

To obtain a copy of "Tracking the Fitness Movement," call Judie Huff at 561/840-1161.

The Fitness Products Council is composed of about 160 companies that manufacture or distribute exercise equipment in the U.S. It is part of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association.

Website: www.sportlink.com/fitness.