One in Four Americans Belonged to a Gym in 2024
A new Health & Fitness Association report highlights US fitness industry growth and calls for action on inactivity, including new bipartisan push for PHIT Act
WASHINGTON, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A record 77 million Americans, or 25% of people aged six and older, were members of a gym, studio, or other fitness facility in 2024, according to new data released by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA). When including non-member users, total fitness facility customers reached nearly 96 million, representing close to one in three Americans (31%). The rise in gym and studio participation signals growing interest in structured fitness, as the number of facility members increased by 20% between 2019 and 2024.
Even with this encouraging growth, most Americans still fall short of physical activity guidelines. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates, three in four Americans aren't meeting recommended levels—highlighting the continued need to expand access and reduce barriers to healthy movement. Affordability remains a key part of that equation. While budget-friendly gym brands have rapidly expanded in recent years, cost is still one of the most commonly cited obstacles to structured exercise.
One proposed solution is the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act, which would allow individuals to use pre-tax dollars from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to cover fitness-related expenses, including gym memberships, fitness classes, youth sports fees, and equipment. Recently reintroduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the bill enjoys broad support—including from nearly nine in 10 Americans, according to recent HFA polling.
"This report signals the impact our industry is already having—and how much more we could do with the right support," said Liz Clark, president and CEO of the Health & Fitness Association. "Fitness centers are engines of well-being, connection, and community. But for millions of Americans, the cost of access remains a barrier."
Additional findings from the report 2025 US Health & Fitness Consumer Report: Headline Trends include:
- Studios were the most popular type of facility, with 23.1 million members in 2024, followed closely by fitness-only gyms with 22.2 million members.
- Average member attendance has stabilized around 1.5 visits per week, down from 2.1 in 2019, reflecting evolving habits as many Americans now supplement gym use with outdoor, at-home, and sport-based physical activity.
- The typical member has trended younger, more male, less affluent, and more ethnically diverse in recent years, reflecting changing engagement patterns across the population.
HFA, the nonprofit trade association representing fitness facilities and suppliers, is calling on policymakers, employers, and healthcare leaders to recognize the industry's role in addressing the physical inactivity crisis and building a healthier, more active America.
About the Health & Fitness Association
The Health & Fitness Association, a global community of industry leaders, is the only worldwide trade association providing a unified voice for the community of leaders who operate health and fitness facilities, offer professional guidance on physical activity, and provide the tools and equipment to do so to the millions of fitness facility members who understand that exercise improves their physical and mental health.
Through advocacy, education, and research, the association speaks to opportunities, challenges, and changes that are moving the industry into a new era.
Founded in 1981, the association publishes a monthly magazine, Health & Fitness Business, and operates The HFA Show, the European Congress, and the Fly-In and Advocacy Summit. Follow the Health & Fitness Association on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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SOURCE Health & Fitness Association