Gyms to Cash in on Aussies’ New Year’s Resolution to Keep Fit

Majority of Australians will have as their New Year's resolution to keep fit. Expected to cash in from this personal promise are gyms, fitness centres and personal trainers.

The excess weight would be a result not only of holiday eating sprees but a rise in obesity rates across the country, making it necessary for many Aussies to seek help in losing extra girth.

Karen Dobie, general manager of business information analysts IBISWorld, estimates that the weight loss industry is expected to benefit with Aussies desire to keep trim as the industry grows 2.3 per cent to $792 million.

Ms Dobie said late January and February would be the busiest times for fitness centres as Aussies attempt to loss their holiday weight gain. Besides gyms and fitness centres, also expected to benefit from the usual holiday plan to keep trim are boot camps and yoga, Pilates and martial art classes as Aussies spend about $190 million on these activities in 2012.

Other popular New Year's resolutions are to quit smoking, eat better, cut alcohol consumption see the world, get out of debt, give back to the community, expand their mid and get into do-it-yourself endeavours.

However, despite these promises which in some cases end up as broken vows, Australia's tobacco retail industry continues to generate over $10 billion in sales yearly and the average Aussie adult would likely consume 10.5 litres of alcohol in 2012.

Another survey by Fitness Magazine and Yahoo found that 44 per cent of women look to actress Jennifer Aniston as their inspiration for their fitness goals. She was followed by Hale Berry (30 per cent), Sofia Vergara (12 per cent), Cameron Diaz (10 per cent) and Blake Lively (7 per cent).

Among male respondents, Hale Berry was the choice of 35 per cent. Across both genders, Aniston was the choice by 32 per cent o be their workout buddy, followed by Reese Witherspoon at 23 per cent.

On the opposite end, the magazine identified LeAnn Rimes (39 per cent), Gwyneth Paltrow (27 per cent) and Cameron Diaz (26 per cent) as scary-skinny celebrities who are not ideal fitness models.