Twenty-five percent of the nation's health club members are now over age 55. It's a telling statistic, and one that holds great potential for the health and fitness professions.

According to American Sports Data president Harvey Lauer, this demographic slice "represents not only a vast change in American attitudes and perceptions, but also an imminent restructuring of the health club and fitness industries, and most crucially -- the seed of monumental healthcare reform in the United States."

Let's look at a few statistics to put things in perspective.

• From 1998 - 2004, the number of frequent fitness participants aged 55+ zoomed by 33%, compared with a growth rate of 13% for Baby Boomers aged 35-54, and zero growth for the "traditional" fitness participant aged 18-34.
• People aged 55+ represent at least 25% of the millions of Americans who pay for the services of a personal trainer. " Americans over age 55 are the fastest-growing age group among gym members, up more than 266 percent since 1987 -- more than twice the rate for U.S. health club members as a whole.
• Frequent health club attendance (100 days) has soared to a new high of 13.5 million. While they already account for 25% of the total memberships, people over 55 represent 28% of all frequent attendees.
• According to IDEA Health and Fitness Association's research, 51% of all personal training clientele are over the age of 45. This would stand to reason as this group has more than 50 percent of the discretionary income, and they spend more of their income on health than any other item, according to the World Health Organization.
• On Jan. 1, 2006, the first Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1963 (currently ages 46-63), started turning 60. This is the generation that created the modern health club industry. It is the largest (78 million), most health-conscious, and most appearance conscious generation in U.S. history.
• 60+ health club membership will swell for the next 10 to 15 years.

Medical fitness, i.e., fitness for men and women who have already incurred some kind of chronic condition, such as hypertension or pre-hypertension, diabetes or pre-diabetes, is going to expand as never before. The role that regular exercise plays in alleviating these conditions is now undeniable, indisputable, and indispensable. Plus, these populations are huge! Example: 50 million US adults are hypertensive (over 140/90). Another 45 million are prehypertensive (over 120/80). That's 95 million people for whom regular exercise is no longer optional.

With respect to the prevention of heart disease, colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, stroke, Alzheimer's, dementia, depression, anxiety, etc., etc., the research is fast-approaching a "tipping point," such that just as no intelligent person today wants to smoke cigarettes, so similarly, soon no intelligent person will want to lead a sedentary life style.

With one small move after another, health insurance companies all over the country are beginning to compete with one another on the basis of their "health club benefit." Every two to three months, another HMO or Medicare provider, climbs on board, adding financial incentives to all the other incentives for getting fit.

Personal trainers who can safely and effectively work with this population will be in ever increasing demand. To become sought after trainer for this group, you will need to hone your skills and build on the knowledge base that you already have as an experienced personal trainer. It is essential that you seek advanced knowledge to safely and effectively work with this ever-growing population.

About the Author

Tammy Petersen is the Managing Partner for the American Academy of Health and Fitness. She has written two books on adult fitness and designed corresponding training programs. Tammy's educational background includes Bachelor of Science degrees in marketing and economics from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. She holds a Master of Science in Education in the area of health and fitness, with an emphasis in geriatrics, from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.

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