News Release:
SFIA Report Studies America's Recreational Activities
Sports & Fitness Industry Assoc. Reports On The Overall Steady Participation In Outdoor & Physical Activities Of Americans During the Year of 2017, Noting That Camping Hiking, Running & Skiing Saw Healthy Increases.
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through SFIA's website.
SILVER SPRING, MD – The 2018 SFIA Topline Participation Report was released a couple days ago and gives insight on how Americans use recreation to stay healthy and active within their lifestyles. SFIA ultimately seeks to promote sports and fitness participation to Americans. The Topline Report shows that Americans continue to engage in a wide range of physical activities, but with less regularity than in previous years. Continuing a trend of recent years, casual participation is growing, while core participation is declining. The Topline Report also identifies several categories of growth across team sports, individual sports, fitness activities and outdoor sports, measuring participation in more than 100 activities in a national, representative survey of Americans six years old and older. “It’s fascinating to explore the changes in the way Americans recreate,” said Tom Cove, President and CEO of the SFIA. “While there continue to be millions of Americans who are hardcore fitness fanatics and sports nuts, even more of us are evolving in our activity and leisure time choices, and this report helps us understand the specifics of what is happening in our families, communities and society.”
Fitness activities continue to represent the highest rates of participation this year. Leading activities include walking, treadmill use, free weights and stationary cycling. Running/Jogging bounced back very strongly after a decline seen in recent years, registering 7.1% annual growth to more than 50 million participants. Several smaller categories indicated growth, as well, including Cross-Training Style Workouts, Rowing Machines and Kettlebells. Lifestyle activities, such as camping, hiking and skiing, also registered a good increase in participation. This supports another insight from SFIA research, that spending time with friends and family is one of the highest motivations to encourage Americans to be active. The report also analyzes societal activity trends regarding demographics and psychographics, such as participation by gender, generation, income and aspirational interests. “SFIA remains fully committed to influencing the national conversation about creating a culture of physical activity in our country,” said Cove.
For the full press release written by SFIA and to view the complete report, click here.