Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In
Fitness

Americans Double Down on Fitness

Explore how health and wellness trends are driving visits to gyms like LA Fitness.

By 
Lila Margalit
November 3, 2022
Americans Double Down on Fitness
SHARE
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Key Takeaways

Health and wellness remains a booming industry in 2022, as more and more Americans prioritize self-care in the wake of COVID. And while online fitness classes still provide a convenient option for many, premature predictions of the demise of the gym have proven greatly exaggerated: People crave community and human interaction – and they’re willing to leave the house to get it.   

A Booming Industry

Despite inflation rates hovering above eight percent throughout the summer, a year that started off well for the fitness industry has gotten even better. During the first week of August, offline fitness visits were up 33.7% relative to the equivalent week in 2021, while year-over-three-year (Yo3Y) visit growth reached 31.9%. And although this impressive visit growth slowed somewhat in September, foot traffic generally remained well above its pre-pandemic baseline and appears once again to be on an upswing.

Some of the year-over-year (YoY) increase can be attributed to a slow-down in gym visits during the third wave of the pandemic. The Yo3Y surge, however, reveals an industry that has not just recovered, but is significantly outperforming its pre-COVID numbers. 

Health Clubs Thriving Across the Board

Zooming in on some of the nation’s top gym brands confirms the continued success of the sector. While overall Yo3Y foot traffic was down for some chains in Q3 2022 – due to shrinking fleets in the wake of rebranding and consolidation moves – both YoY and Yo3Y visits per venue were up across the board. Notably, the ambit of chains with increased visits per venue includes not just deeply discounted clubs like Planet Fitness and Crunch Fitness, which offer memberships starting at about $10 a month, but also pricier options like LA Fitness and Powerhouse Gym.

Increased Visit Duration

While some of the growth undoubtedly comes from recouped membership rosters, fitness-conscious Americans are also upping their workout frequency. And once people make it to the gym, they tend to stay there longer than they did in 2019. A look at the median dwell times for leading fitness chains shows remarkable growth from 2019 to 2022, ranging from 2.8% at LA Fitness and Chuze Fitness, to 9.0% at Crunch Fitness. This is good news for health clubs, since people who spend more time at the gym are more likely to renew their memberships going forward.

Cheaper, Stronger Brands Snagging More Visit Share

While business is thriving across the sector, comparing the relative foot traffic distribution for four of the nation’s top brands over the past several years shows that the lower-cost gyms are snagging a growing slice of the visitor pie. Planet Fitness, further cementing its position as the nation’s most-visited gym, saw its relative foot visit share jump from 53.4% in Q3 2018 to 63.6% in Q3 2022. Crunch Fitness’ share grew from 5.2% to 8.3% over the same period. 

LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness, on the other hand, experienced mild declines. LA Fitness, hit particularly hard by COVID closures in places like California, has sought to meet the growing demand for low-cost alternatives by rebranding many of its locations as discount Esporta clubs. While this move has not yet brought the company’s visit share back to where it was in 2018, the needle has begun to move in the right direction. 24 Fitness, which for its part sustained a significant blow when it was forced to file for bankruptcy during the pandemic, is also seeing its share of foot traffic begin to bounce back.

Leaning into Mental Health

The continued industry boom may stem, in part, from steps the clubs have taken to lean in to consumers’ heightened focus on mental health and emotional well-being – particularly among Gen Z adults, who make up a substantial share of gym goers. 24 Hour Fitness partnered with Headspace this October to offer its customers three months of free access to the well-known mindfulness app. Other gyms, like Crunch Fitness, have invested in meditation classes as well as rest and recovery rooms where people can relax and socialize after a tough workout. 

At the height of the pandemic, some 70% of fitness consumers reported missing their health clubs as much as their friends and family. As gyms increasingly position themselves as places not just to work out, but to hang out and engage in a broader range of self-care activities, their positive trajectories appear poised to continue.

For more data-driven consumer insights, visit Placer.ai

Learn how downtown regions across US cities are measuring up with our free tools.
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
SHARE
Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week
Subscribe to the newsletter
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Recent Publications

Get 3 brand & industry breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter
Text Link
Planet Fitness
Text Link
Crunch Fitness
Text Link
LA Fitness
Looking Ahead to the 2024 Holiday Season
Trader Joe's: Continuing to Thrive in 2024
Bowlero and AMF: A Ten-Pin Knockout
Recreational Retail: Store Performance in 2024
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – September 2024
A QSR and Fast-Casual Face-Off
Sam’s Club’s In-Store Retail Media Network Opportunity
The Rising Stars: Six Metro Areas Welcoming Young Professionals
Costco in 2024: A Deep Dive
Sherwin-Williams in 2024: Brighter Than a New Lick of Paint
Life Time and Orangetheory: Premium Fitness Flourishing
C-Stores: More Than A Pit Stop
Darden: Dining Dominance Undeterred 
Placer 100 Index for Retail and Dining: August 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: August 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: August 2024 Recap – Back-To-School In Full Swing
Auto Parts Retailers: The Traffic Continues
Pumpkin Spice Works its Magic Once Again
School Season Sparks Retail Growth
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – July & August 2024
Big Lots’ Big Rightsizing Move in Four Data Points
Fun Away From The Sun: Checking in With Eatertainment
Domestic Migration and Population Growth: Strong Currents Off The Carolina Coast
The Civic Impact of Summer Events
Retail Trends in College Towns: A Back-to-School Snapshot
Five Below and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet: Consumers Still on the Hunt for Discounts
Macy’s & Bloomingdale’s: Into 2024 and Beyond
Limited Time Only: The Trend Continues
Beauty in 2024: Many Ways to Win
Dollar General & Dollar Tree: Powering Ahead in Q2 2024
The Home Depot and Lowe's Foot Traffic Remodel in Q2 2024
Superstore Update: Summer Savings Spree
Placer.ai Mall Index: July 2024 Recap – From Fourth of July to Back-to-School
Placer.ai Office Index: July 2024 Recap
Summer Movie Madness: Blockbuster Films Boost Foot Traffic
Driving Success: Toyota in 2024
Denny’s and IHOP: An All-Day Breakfast Matchup
Warby Parker: Seeing Clearly Now
Planet Fitness at the 2024 Halfway Point
Serving Summer 2024: RBI and Yum! Brands Q2 Foot Traffic
Starbucks, Dutch Bros., Dunkin’: Finding Summer Success
Fast Food and Fast Casual Favorites, Plus CosMc’s Takeoff
Chipotle and Sweetgreen: Fast-Casual in Q2 2024
First Watch, Texas Roadhouse, and Applebee’s: An FSR Roundup
Albertsons Companies: H1 2024 Recap
Teaming Up For Success: Sports Stadium Sponsorships
Limited Time Offers: Price Wars Boost Visits
Placer 100 Index for Retail & Dining: June 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Mall Index: June 2024 Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: June 2024 Recap
Inside Out 2: The New Blockbuster Bringing Crowds Back to Theaters
Petco and PetSmart: A Head to Head
Frozen Delights: Exploring Ice Cream Chains Across America
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – June 2024
Barnes & Noble: Writing a New Story
Small Format Stores - Sprouting, Blooming, and Expanding
Retail and Dining on Father’s Day
Thrift Store Visit Scores
Charting Value Grocery’s Visit Growth
Placer 100 Index for Retail & Dining: Introduction and May 2024 Recap
Digging Into Darden: Q2 2024 Update
2024 Retail and Dining Trends Update
TRU and avid: Midscale Hotels on the Rise 
Diving Into Kroger: A Strong Start to 2024
Placer.ai Mall Index: May 2024 Recap – Mall Visits on the Rebound
Placer.ai Office Index: May 2024 Recap
2024 Memorial Day Recap
Las Vegas: A Tourism and Migration Deep Dive
Eatertainment Chains: Full on Food, Fun, and Foot Traffic
The Promise of Luxury Apparel
Catching Up With Ulta Beauty & Gap Brands
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Five Below: Q1 2024 Treasure Troves
CAVA Still Going Strong
Driving Success: Auto Parts Chains in 2024
Checking in With DICK’S Sporting Goods
Mother’s Day Shopping and Dining Trends
Placer.ai Mall Index: April 2024 Recap – Retail Resilience Heading into Spring
Dollar Stores Still Gaining Momentum
Off-Price Apparel Chains After Q1 2024: Demographics in the Balance
Walmart, Target, and Wholesale Clubs Continue to Thrive
Home Improvement and Decor Check In
Placer.ai Office Index: April 2024 Recap – Recovery Continues
Movie Theaters in Q1 2024: A Preview of Coming Attractions?
Let’s Get Physical: Fitness In 2024
Where Are Workers Returning to Office in 2024?
2024 Wins: Sweetgreen & First Watch on the Rise
A Full-Service Turnaround: Bloomin’, Dine, and Texas Roadhouse
Wendy’s and Denny’s: Breakfast and Late Night Dining Drives Success
Coffee Chains: Q1 2024 Update and What’s Changed Since COVID
Checking in with RBI and YUM!
Chipotle & McDonald's Serving Up Success
Wingstop & Shake Shack Continue Growing Their Reach 
Strong Start for Sprouts in 2024
Crocs’ Footwear Fairytale
Who Attends NCAA Final Four Events?
Eclipse Fever: How Did the (Retail and Hospitality) Stars Align?
Exploring Albertsons Companies’ Grocery Growth
Placer.ai Mall Index: March 2024 Recap – Malls Rise Again
Placer.ai Office Index: March 2024 Recap
Florida Spring Break Break-Up? Travelers Still Love Florida!