Penetration rates and private memberships in UK clubs are up according to the latest survey of the fitness industry.

The State of the UK Fitness Industry 2005 – produced by The Leisure Database Company in conjunction with the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) – shows that 11.8 per cent of the UK population (more than seven million consumers) are either members of private health clubs or registered gym users.

These seven million people workout at the current 2,890 private clubs and 2,596 publicly-owned health and fitness facilities.

Prior to 2004, the survey focused on clubs with more than 500 members and those with less than 500 members that were part of a chain. The 2005 survey however has been reclassified to include all private clubs in the UK, regardless of membership, resulting in an additional 600 plus clubs being included.

Year on year comparisons of penetration rates reveal an increase to 11.1 per cent of the UK population. This compares with 10.3 per cent at the end of 2003 and 9.9 per cent at the end of 2002.

The UK penetration figures are chasing the longer established US health and fitness industry which boasts some 13.5 per cent of the population.

When comparing year on year figures, private club memberships have grown by 5.9 per cent, which is in line with the previous year’s growth of 5.6 per cent.

Membership growth levels are due in part to new club openings. Last year saw the launch of 90 new private health and fitness clubs compared to 88 in 2003. This figure increases to 108 new private clubs in 2004 when all the smaller clubs, not incorporated in previous surveys, are included. Growth in the public sector is witnessed by the 72 public sector health and fitness facilities opened in 2004, down only slightly on the 75 for 2003.