Australian gym goers spend an average of $79 a month on memberships

Australians spend an average of $79 per month on gym memberships - $948 over a year - with adults aged in their 40s spending the most on their exercise ($100 a month).

The figures, revealed by consumer review and comparison website Canstar Blue as part of an ongoing annual snapshot of fitness member satisfaction, show that gym goers in NSW pay the most per month ($85), while those in Queensland ($72) and South Australia ($69) spend the least.

Among age differences, those aged 70 or over spend the least on their activity ($51 a month).

The survey also revealed:

• 18% of member don’t go the gym as much as they thought they would when they signed up
• 27% have tried more than one gym chain in an effort to find a place they really like
• 46% report feeling heavier for having a gym membership and regularly going to the gym

Motivations for going to the gym
Canstar Blue’s research shows that most gym members (45%) attend the gym between three and five days each week, while 21% go once or twice a week and one in five (20%) hit the gym five or six times per week.

As for maintaining a gym membership, the survey found:

• 40% just want to improve their general fitness
• 23% are actively trying to lose some weight
• 14% are simply out to build muscle
• 10% says it’s more about their mental wellbeing

For the remaining 13%, their motivation is a mix of being a social activity, rehabilitation or specific sports training

Canstar Blue also found mornings to be the most popular time of day to hit the gym (42%), followed by evenings (24%) and afternoons (16%).

Canstar Blue also assessed member satisfaction with individual fitness groups and chains.

Image courtesy of UFC Gym Bankstown.