Despite weight loss-themed TV reality programs and newspaper and magazine articles that sing the praises of getting in shape, exercise program attrition rates remain high. The American Council on Exercise reports that 50 percent of novice exercisers drop out within the first six months, and that only 25 percent of Americans engage in the recommended levels of physical activity.
Analyzing Attrition
Weight control and enhanced physical appearance are just two benefits of regular exercise. Other perks include preventing heart disease and diabetes, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and maintaining bone density. The mental benefits of exercise include improved concentration and resistance to depression. Given these concrete advantages, the high exercise attrition rates pose a conundrum to the fitness industry. The Clearinghouse on Teacher Education in Washington DC identifies psychological, physical, social and situational issues as factors influencing exercise attrition rates.
Childhood Exercise Habits
The factors influencing an adult's likelihood of adhering to a regular exercise program have their genesis in childhood, says researcher Vern Seefeldt, in a 2002 edition of "Sports Med." Young children should establish their basic fitness levels and develop an exercise habit in early childhood, but in the face of educational budget cuts, many school administrators choose to eliminate physical education as opposed to academic subjects. If physical activity was not a part of your daily lifestyle during your childhood, there's a chance that you will have difficulty initiating and adhering to an exercise program as an adult.
Time
Work and family commitments may challenge your ability to spend adequate time on a workout. Factors such as the proximity of the exercise facility and its associated traffic and parking problems may minimize your motivation to go to the gym. The facility's hours of operation, timing of your favorite fitness classes and availability of your favored fitness equipment also play an important role in exercise adherence, explains Dr. R.R. Danielson, Human Kinetics Department lecturer at Laurentian University.
Money
Although people join fitness centers as a means of assuring exercise adherence, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association reports that health clubs have a 34.5-percent attrition rate each year. Fitness managers often try to maintain retention by adding high-tech, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, and developing innovative group exercise programs, but the expense of these improvements may require extensive dues increases. In a tight economy, people may be less likely to renew their gym memberships. Some will develop cost-effective exercise plans such as outdoor running or in-home body weight exercises. This game plan works well for highly motivated fitness enthusiasts, but those who are less motivated may completely drop out of any type of exercise program.
References
- "Athletic Business"; Fitness - The 'Issue' Is Member Attrition ; Ronale Tucker Rhodes; February 2007
- ERIC Digests; Exercise Adherence; Clearinghouse on Teacher Education Washington DC.
- Dr. D Notes; Factors in Continued Exercise Adherence; Dr. R.R. Danielson
- American Council on Exercise: Exercise Experience
- Georgia State University: Exercise Adherence
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