Majority of Americans hopeful for renewed commitment to fitness in 2011

Buoyed by the chance for a fresh start in the New Year, an overwhelming majority of Americans are hopeful for a renewed commitment to fitness in 2011, according to a national omnibus survey conducted by 24 Hour Fitness. 24 Hour Fitness, the largest privately-owned U.S. fitness club chain and a leading health club industry pioneer, recently commissioned the study to measure consumer attitudes about exercise and the obstacles that most often prevent people from pursuing a fit lifestyle.

“The physical act of working out can feel more like punishment than fun; what we find is that once people push past their initial struggles and start to experience the physical and mental benefits of exercise, they tend to be hooked for the long haul.”

According to the survey, 72 percent of Americans are hopeful that they will commit to exercising more frequently in the New Year than they did in 2010. Key reasons why newly-dedicated workout warriors tend to fall off track include lack of consistent motivation (27 percent) and time management (21 percent).

"At 24 Hour Fitness, we've always believed in three key truths about fitness: exercise can help make you look and feel better, finding time and staying motivated for fitness is a constant battle and the active pursuits of young people can inspire the rest of us to kick it into gear," said Tony Wells, Chief Marketing Officer, 24 Hour Fitness. "The physical act of working out can feel more like punishment than fun; what we find is that once people push past their initial struggles and start to experience the physical and mental benefits of exercise, they tend to be hooked for the long haul."

Young Adults Set the Tone, Get Toned

When compared with older Americans, a higher percentage of young adults responded that they are committed to exercise more regularly in the coming year than they did in 2010. More than four of five (81 percent) adults 25-34 expect to be more physically active in 2011; this figure dips to 73 percent for adults 35-44 and again to 65 percent for adults 55-64.

Significantly more young adults attribute a busy social agenda as the primary hurdle affecting their ability to exercise regularly while older adults tend to cite a general lack of sustained interest and job or family concerns as key factors derailing their fitness progress. Providing hope for future generations of physically fit adults, adults 25-34 were less likely than all other age groups to cite lack of desire as their primary roadblock.

"Young adults may be more enthused about meeting people and looking good, but their dedication to getting fit is also driving long-term health benefits. All of us should be inspired by that to get moving," said Wells. "Understandably, everyday life can get in the way of a regular routine, but older adults owe it to themselves to get out there and be active."

Weight Loss: the Great Motivator

According to the survey, losing weight (36 percent) ranks as the greatest motivator to exercise regularly, followed closely by appearance improvements (35 percent). Interestingly, men are more than twice as likely as women to cite improving athletic abilities as a key driver of regular exercise (11 percent and 5 percent, respectively).

Men are also more likely than women to cite portion control (14 percent to 11 percent) and eating the right kind of food (19 percent and 11 percent) as challenges to their general health and fitness.

"Commitments to regular exercise and eating well go hand-in-hand," said Wells. "That's precisely why we developed the bodybuggSP system, which allows people to track calories consumed and burned and provides the real-time data necessary for a holistic view of personal health and wellness."