SGMA Newsletter
Sep-Oct 2001

SGMA FITNESS AND SPORTS LETTER
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2001

****Grey is Beautiful****

The health-club business has been booming in recent years, and if you've been a regular club goer for a decade or so, you don't have to look very far to figure out why. It's all those older members who are joining up to improve their quality of life, speed their recovery from injury or disease or spend some time socializing with their friends.

Yes, folks, health clubs are turning gray. Back in 1987, nearly two out of every three health club members were under the age of 35. Now they account for considerably less than half. It's not that there are fewer young members, it's that there are so many more older ones. In a sense, this was to be expected. Members of the huge baby boom generation, who are credited with inventing the fitness movement, are now aged 35 to 55, so it stands to
reason that this age group dominates the membership rosters of many clubs.

But what's surprising - and delighting - almost everyone in the industry is the explosive growth in members aged 55 and older. Since 1987, their numbers have increased 393%, from 1.5 million to 7.4 million, and today they account for 23% of all health club members.

Many of these older members have never joined a health club before, and they are transforming the industry, said Bill Howland, director of communications and research for IHRSA.

"Their motivations for joining are very different from new members of ten years ago," Howland said. "They are concerned about health. Maybe they are recovering from an illness. Perhaps they've seen peers struggling with chronic health conditions and want to avoid the same problems. Others have seen what their friends have achieved through regular exercise.

"They are strongly motivated members, frequent users who log a lot of days at the club," Howland said. Many of these members are retired or semi-retired and tend to visit the club during the day, in what otherwise would be slow hours. Often they meet friends at the club and spend at least part of their visit socializing. "These members are transforming clubs in terms of programming, employee training, equipment, and services," said Howland. The changes include mellower music selection, initiatives to improve the social
atmosphere and gentler personal training techniques. They also affect equipment
design and selection. "Mature members aren't willing to tolerate discomfort and they aren't looking to sweat puddles," Howland said. "They prefer selectorized weight equipment to free weights. They want recumbent bikes with padded seats. Many are beginning exercisers, so the treadmill is important. One reason that elliptical trainers have taken off is because they are easy on the joints."

According to research by American Sports Data, 26% of all people over the age of 55 say they participate in some form of fitness activity at least 100 times a year, more than any other age group. The trend is seen as promising to fuel the health club and fitness industries for years to come as boomers by the millions cross the 55-year threshold.

Health Club Members, by Age
Under 18: 1987 = 1.4; 2000 = 3.2; change +129%
18-34: 1987 = 9.1; 2000 = 10.2; change +12%
35-54: 1987 = 5.3; 2000 = 11.9; change +125%
55 and older: 1987 = 1.5; 2000 = 7.4; change +393%

Health Club Members (In Millions)
1987 - 17.4
1997 - 28.3
2000 - 32.8

Percent of Health Club Members (Aged 35 or older)
1987 - 39%
 2000 - 59%
Source: IHRSA/American Sports Data Inc.


 ***More Gentle Classes***

Reflecting at least in part the needs of older members, here are the four
fastest-growing fitness classes in health clubs, according to a survey
of program directors by IDEA:

Core conditioning, reflecting a growing interest in yoga and Pilates type exercises.  Flexibility and stretching classes. Again, yoga and Pilates are major influences.  Stretching sessions are being added at the end of other classes or integrated into them.

Group strength training. They are growing in popularity because people are more aware of the need of weight-bearing exercises as they age, IDEA said.

Yoga classes are being offered in myriad forms, from "power" to "restorative."  Classes decreasing in popularity include boxing, kick-boxing, martial arts, indoor rowing and mixed impact sessions.


 ***Fitness & Sports Index***

In a fitness walking program, strive for quicker steps, not longer ones.  At 135 steps per minute, you're going four miles per hour, or 15 minutes per mile. (Newsday, July 9)

In men, hamstrings are 60% to 70% as strong as quadriceps. In women, they are only 45% to 55% as strong - one reason women athletes are more likely to have knee injuries. (Detroit Free Press, Aug. 18)

President George W. Bush is 55 years old, 6 feet tall, weighs 189.7 pounds (down from 194.5 when he was governor of Texas), has a resting heart rate of 43 beats a minute and 14.5% body fat. He runs an average of 3 miles four times a week and cross-trains with swimming, free weights and an elliptical trainer. (Associated Press, Aug. 5)

There are about 15,000 martial arts schools in the U.S.  Drop-out rates for students are about 50% annually. (Wall St. Journal, July 10)

A survey of 36,000 trainers and coaches by the American Council on
Exercise identified the five best exercises for the gluteal muscles: squats,
lunges, walking uphill, jogging and stair-climbing.

Krav Maga, a self-defense program developed for the Israeli Army, is now taught in 40 locations nationwide, with 100 more planned to open next year.  (USA Today, July 10)

A study of youngsters in Iowa found that only 56% of boys and 61% of girls met cardiovascular fitness standards, that children spend an average of three hours a day watching TV and that the prevalence of obesity increases with time spent watching. (Associated Press, July 16)

Six key aspects of fitness are aerobic fitness, muscle strength, muscle endurance, agility, speed, flexibility and balance. (Detroit News, Aug. 1)

Asked about their overall satisfaction with their jobs, 85% of fitness professionals polled by IDEA responded favorably. Among all U.S. workers, only 67% say they are satisfied.


 ***From The Fitness Frontlines***

Remember when triathlons were only for hard-core endurance specialists?  No more. In a move to expand its role as a promoter of health and fitness, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is sponsoring a seven-city triathlon series for seniors this fall. Participants must be aged 50 or older. Distances are: swim, 400 meters (quarter mile), bike 20 kilometers (12.4 miles), run five kilometers (3.1 miles). The first event, in
Naperville, Ill., was expected to attract 300 to 400 participants.

Meanwhile, McDonalds sponsors a triathlon in which kids aged 7 to 14
compete in two age groups. Those 7-10 swim 100 meters, bike four kilometers and run one kilometer. Distances for the older group are doubled. USA Triathlon sanctioned 60 kids' triathlons in 2000. The goal is to have fun, but at least one triathlon training camp has been opened for kids aged 6 to 19.  (Chicago Tribune, Aug. 19)

Physicians in the U.S. advise only a minority of their patients to take up exercise, wrote Dr. Christina C. Wee of Harvard Medical School in a commentary on a new study showing that educational programs by doctors can get sedentary people to take up exercise. Some 900 healthy adults were studied over a two-year period. Some were given standard exercise advice and materials; others were provided counseling and follow-up advice; a third group received periodic phone calls and special programs.

All three groups increased their exercise at first, but only the second two programs resulted in improved fitness - and these only among women - after two years.  It's unlikely that many physicians are offering even standard materials, let alone structuring extensive programs, wrote Dr.  Wee. (Reuters, Aug. 7)

Exercise is a potent weapon in the fight against diabetes, according to findings that were announced by the Department of Health and Human Services and were widely reported during August. The study involved 3,234 overweight participants divided into three groups. The group that exercised, ate less fat and lost weight achieved better results than the other two groups, one of which took a placebo while the other took a diabetes medicine
called metformin. In the exercising group, only 4.8% a year developed diabetes, compared to 7.8% of those on metformin and 11% of those who took the placebo.  They were asked to eat less fat, exercise moderately 150 minutes a week and lose about 15 pounds; they were also given classes in how to do it.   The other groups were given information, but no classes. The results were so overwhelming that researchers ended the study a year early. Type 2
diabetes has risen by one-third in the U.S. and public health officials have warned of an impending epidemic.

Exercise appears to help keep you mentally sharp as you age, according to a study of 5,925 women aged 65 and older covering six to eight years.  Those who exercised the most had a lower percentage (17%) of individuals who suffered measurable cognitive decline than those who exercised least (24%). Put another way, "For every mile women walked, they reduced their risk of lower mental function by 13%," said The Washington Post (July 31).


 ***Trend Corner***

The Tiger Woods Effect. A national golf tournament for children aged 4 to 12, with 10 divisional competitions, is sponsored by U.S. Kids Golf, which makes clubs shorter than two feet for small players. About 850 kids participated last year, reported the Associated Press (Aug. 12). Teaching pros once believed a youngster should be at least 10 before handling golf equipment, but many of the tournament entrants are eight or younger. One golf course is planning to open a learning center for youngsters that will feature golf balls the size of tennis balls. Although the objective is to have fun, some people don't get it. Asked his goal in life, one four year-old said, "To be the world's greatest golfer." His father then
chipped in, "I'd be happy with a golf scholarship."

Mud Bath or CAT Scan? Spas, once a place for stress reduction, weight loss and exercise, are adding fully staffed medical facilities equipped to conduct a wide range of tests, "from standard blood draws to electrocardiograms and ultrasounds," reported the Wall Street Journal (July 20).  About 200 U.S. spas now have staffs of doctors and nurses, adopting a practice that is more common in Europe. Guests can take the normal spa offerings or add the check-ups, which can add hundreds of dollars to the bill. It seems to be working, said the Journal: "Revenues at some of the top spas grew 40% last year and the category with the biggest increases is medical treatments."

Counting Steps. More and more people are using pedometers in
do-it-yourself walking programs called 10,000 Steps, reported The Rocky Mountain News
(July 31).  The program apparently originated in Japan, the paper said.
You cover roughly five miles by walking 10,000 steps a day and of course All steps, no matter where you go, count. The pedometer motivates people to walk more when they find themselves below the target. Pedometer sales are soaring, said a manufacturer and a retailer quoted by the paper.

 ***Sports Spotlight***

Bad Medicine.
Many college athletes are risking their health by taking over-the-counter nutritional supplements. A survey by the NCAA of 21,000 male and female athletes found that 58% use unregulated dietary supplements. This is akin to "playing in the dark," according to one trainer. Many athletes started using the supplements in high school. Of the users, 15% said they got the supplements from a coach, trainer or other official. (USA Today, Aug. 16)

Finding a Way to Play.
Slashed education budgets have all but killed athletic programs in some inner city schools, but some of them are fighting back by turning to the public sector for support, reported The Washington Post (Aug.5). In New York City, major corporations are helping to raise $100 million to renovate more than 50 athletic complexes. In Denver, the NBA Nuggets and the NHL Avalanche helped raise almost $300,000 for middle-school sports programs.  In Atlanta, 11 high school football teams play all their games in two large stadiums to attract bigger crowds. Teams play double- and triple-headers on Fridays and Saturdays. By doing this they don't need to maintain home stadiums.

Politically Incorrect Sport?
Dodgeball has come under attack lately as an inappropriate game for school physical education classes, so it might surprise you to know that a Chicago park district recently hosted the second annual Outdoor National Championship of the National Amateur Dodgeball Association. The first championship attracted 32 teams (10 players per team) and was so popular that an indoor championship was held in January. (Chicago Tribune, July 20)

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