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| HERE'S TO THEIR HEALTH: DELAWARE AND SAN DIEGO TOP THE LIST OF MOST HEALTH CONSCIOUS U.S. STATES AND CITIES |
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BOSTON ' September 15, 2005 ' The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) today announced the 25 U.S. states and cities (metro areas) with the highest rates of health club membership, according to data collected in the 2004 IHRSA/American Sports Data Health Club Trend Report.
The national study found that among U.S. states, Delaware has the highest percentage of health club members with a projected 20.9 percent of state residents (over the age of six) belonging to a health club or fitness center. Colorado follows with 20.1 percent and California with 18.9 percent.
San Diego ranks as the top city in the country with 24.2 percent of its residents belonging health clubs. In second place, Denver, with 23.2 percent, followed by Columbus, Ohio with 21.9 percent.
In total, U.S. health club membership increased 4.9 percent between January 2004 and January 2005, from 39.4 million members to a record 41.3 million.
'We applaud every American that makes the important decision to improve their personal health through physical activity,' said John McCarthy. 'It's been nearly a decade since the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health called on Americans to make regular exercise a permanent part of their lives, and the rising number of health club members in the U.S. can serve as a strong indication that the messages from that report are still resonating.'
Since 1999, the western region of the U.S. has experienced the most growth in the number of people who belong to a health club, increasing 42 percent from 8.1 million members in 1999 to 11.5 million members in 2004. The north-central region of the U.S. follows, experiencing a 41 percent increase for the same time period from 6.6 million members to 9.3 million, followed by 39 percent growth in the northeast from 5.6 million members to 7.8 million and 24 percent growth in the south from 10.3 million members to 12.8 million.
The top states and cities follow:
|
Rank
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State
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Participants per 100 people
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Rank
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City (metro area)
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Participants per 100 people
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|
1
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Delaware |
20.9
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1
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San Diego |
24.2
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|
2
| Colorado |
20.1
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2
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Denver |
23.2
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|
3
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California |
18.9
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3
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Columbus |
21.9
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|
4
| Arizona |
18.8
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4
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Minneapolis |
20.9
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4
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Massachusetts |
18.8
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|
5
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Seattle |
20.3
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|
5
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Washington |
18.3
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6
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San Francisco |
20.1
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6
| Virginia |
18.2
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|
7
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Boston |
19.1
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7
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Utah |
17.3
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7
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Los Angeles |
19.1
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|
8
| New Jersey |
17.1
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8
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Detroit |
18.8
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9
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Oregon |
16.6
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|
9
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Cleveland |
18.5
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10
| Ohio |
16.4
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10
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Washington |
18.1
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11
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Minnesota |
16.1
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11
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Indianapolis |
17.9
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12
| Connecticut |
15.7
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12
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Phoenix |
17.8
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12
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Michigan |
15.7
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12
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Dallas |
17.8
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13
| New Hampshire |
15.4
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13
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Miami |
17.6
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14
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Illinois |
15.1
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14
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Portland |
17.4
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15
| Wyoming |
14.7
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15
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Sacramento |
17.3
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15
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Maryland |
14.7
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15
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Tampa |
17.3
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16
| Texas |
14.6
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16
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Chicago |
17.1
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17
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North Carolina |
14.6
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17
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New York |
16.9
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18
| Nevada |
14.3
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18
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Cincinnati |
16.8
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18
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New York |
14.3
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18
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St. Louis |
16.8
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19
| Missouri |
14
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19
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San Antonio |
16.4
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20
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Georgia |
13.7
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20
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Kansas City |
16.2
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21
| Wisconsin |
13.6
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21
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Philadelphia |
15
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The IHRSA/ASD Health Club Trend Report is produced by American Sports Data, Inc. and sponsored by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). The complete rankings list and additional information about the report can be found online at www.ihrsa.org.
About IHRSA
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2005-2006. Over the past quarter of a century, the not-for-profit association has established itself as the voice of quality and innovation for the global health, racquet, and sportsclub industry representing over 6,500 clubs in 67 countries, along with over 600 industry suppliers.
As it looks to the future, IHRSA is committed to taking a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical to America's health and the battle against obesity and disease. IHRSA supports effective national initiatives to promote more active lifestyles and is working to pass laws that will help affect societal changes toward a more fit America.
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