Participation in sport and physical activity, at least once a year, has largely increased since 2000-01. The participation rate is anticipated to approach 90.0% of the Australian population in 2021-22.
‘Consumer interest in non-sport physical recreation, such as gyms and fitness centres, recreational walking and running have been the main contributors of this long-term growth. Rising health consciousness has also motivated more Australians to lead physically active lifestyles,’ said IBISWorld Senior Industry Analyst Suzy Oo.
Insufficient physical activity
Despite the increase in sport participation, a notable number of Australians are falling off the fitness wagon. Recent studies have found that, while one-third of the Australian population have a gym membership, roughly half of members visit their gym less than once per week.
‘The dominant reason behind this contradiction can be attributed to a lack of sufficient time or having too many commitments. Approximately 55% of the adult population do not meet the recommended physical recreation guidelines,’ said Ms Oo.
These guidelines comprise up to 5 hours of moderate physical activity (such as brisk walking or swimming), and at least 1.25 hours of vigorous activity (such as jogging or playing soccer) each week. Rather than achieving physical fitness goals, many young adults are now taking up low to moderate intensity non-sport activities for overall mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The rise of recreational walking
The COVID-19 pandemic has obliterated demand for fitness services, with Gyms and Fitness Centres forced to close in line with lockdown restrictions. Outside of these facilities, exercise participation is on the rise, as Australians seek out more sustainable fitness following periods of fluctuating lockdowns, and living relatively sedentary lifestyles.
‘Many former gym-goers have engaged in at-home and outdoor workouts to stay active. A significant portion of housebound individuals have also taken up recreational walking or jogging in accordance with movement restrictions,’ Ms Oo.
Girls’ and women’s participation in sport or physical activity rose in the aftermath of the pandemic, with the participation rate for those walking at least 5 times a week rising by 2.1 percentage points in the September 2020 quarter compared to a similar period last year.
‘The increase in female participation is anticipated to drive the current-year growth for Women's Gyms, where revenue is expected to rise by 9.7% in 2021-22. Women’s gyms provide a more comfortable and supportive environment for their members than their unisex alternatives, a trend which will likely play a vital role for women seeking to improve their fitness after lockdown,’ said Ms Oo.
Future of fitness
During June 2021, only 25.1% of Australians exercised at a gym or played sport at least once a week. This is much lower than the pre-pandemic normal, where 38.2% participated in these activities prior to March 2020.
A notable portion of former gym-goers are unlikely to return to their gym in the current year. The popularity of low-intensity workouts comes at the expense of personal trainers and traditional full-service gyms.
‘Revenue for the Personal Trainers industry is projected to rise at an annualised 3.6% over the five years through 2026-27, while that of Pilates and Yoga Studios is forecast to grow at an annualised 4.5% over the same period,’ said Ms Oo.
Renewed interest in low-impact exercise will likely continue driving demand for premium Pilates and yoga studios. With almost half of the employees in the labour force spending the majority of their work day sitting, the importance of good posture and movement is encouraging people to integrate Pilates or yoga routines into their daily life.
Meanwhile, after several months of COVID-19 flare-ups, snap lockdowns and capacity restrictions, many gym members will likely reassess their finances and gym contracts in the short-term.
‘Gyms and Fitness Centres projected to remain below pre-pandemic revenue until 2025-26. Members that typically attend classes will likely opt for a pay-per-visit option, frequenting niche health clubs for spinning, yoga and HIIT classes,’ said Ms Oo.
IBISWorld reports used to develop this release:
- Women’s Gyms in Australia
- Personal Trainers in Australia
- Gyms and Fitness Centres in Australia
- Pilates and Yoga Studios in Australia
- Health Consciousness
- Sport Participation
For more information, to obtain industry reports, or arrange an interview with an analyst, please contact:
Jason Aravanis
Strategic Media Advisor – IBISWorld Pty Ltd
Tel: 03 9906 3647
Email: mediarelations@ibisworld.com
