Annual SFIA Fitness Participation Report Now Available
SILVER SPRING, MD (August 12, 2020) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) released the 2020 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report, presenting a deep dive into the fitness industry and consumer trends across the United States. In 2019, participation increased 2.9 percent and individuals took part, on average, in about four fitness activities throughout the year. The “casual” participant continues to grow, as more opportunities to try new workouts arise and become more accessible.
While the pandemic will greatly impact participation numbers and trends for 2020, many of the top fitness activities of 2019, such as Walking for Fitness, Running/Jogging, Dumbbells/Hand Weights and Yoga, were ideal platforms for the at-home fitness routines Americans adopted in 2020. It is likely these activities, already strong and growing in 2019, will reflect exponential growth in the coming year. In addition, the emphasis on easily accessible running and walking activities may reinforce exercise as a lifestyle and provide new opportunities for Americans to be active as they come to terms with new ways of social engagement.
“The fitness industry was hitting on all cylinders in 2019 and early 2020 and diverged in two directions as the COVID pandemic hit our country. On the one hand, Americans’ desire for fitness has driven growth in activity rates and sales for at-home fitness products. This is a terrific reflection of the underlying strength of the fitness category and of the fitness community. On the other hand, the impact of fitness facility closures has been, and continues to be, extremely challenging for large parts of the fitness industry,” said Tom Cove, SFIA CEO and President. “We believe Americans’ desire for fitness and the industry’s creativity and resilience indicate sustained future growth after the pandemic subsides.”
The 2020 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report also features in-depth interviews with: Aly Orady (CEO & Founder, Tonal), Joey Shamah (CEO & Co-Founder, FIT for LIFE) and Helen Durkin, J.D. (Executive Vice President of Public Policy, IHRSA) providing personal insight to specific, key segments of the market.
To purchase the 2020 Tracking the Fitness Movement Report, click here.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
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