Life Time reported its 2024 annual consumer health and wellness survey results. The company surveyed 3,000 people who participated in the survey, up from 1,000 respondents for its year-ago survey.

Respondents to the annual survey include members and non-members of health clubs who answered 17 questions about health, exercise habits, workouts, and other insights.

Interest in strength training will continue to grow into 2024, with building muscle cited as the number one goal for the year (35.9 percent), an increase of more than 3 percent from Life Time’s 2023 survey. Weight loss and moving more each day followed in order of response.

Other notable findings from the 2024 survey included:

  • At a time when people are blending their personal and professional lives more than ever, workouts are considered sacred “me time,” with 77.2 percent of respondents saying they avoid all work emails and calls during exercise and nearly 90 percent reported they rarely, if ever, work while working out.
  • Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said they intend to prioritize their health and well-being more in 2024 than in 2023, a 29 percent increase from 2023. The top reason cited is to keep doing things they love for as long as possible. More people are focusing on being able to live longer, healthier lives (51 percent) versus simply looking better (9 percent).

“Through our annual survey, we always look forward to gathering a glimpse of the consumer mindset and attitudes toward health and wellness,” said Life Time President and COO Jeff Zwiefel. “Personal health is our best defense to live longer and perform better both physically and mentally, and Life Time is unwavering in our approaches to meet members where they are, helping them to live healthy, happy, and fulfilled lives via our best places, programs, performers, and experiences.”

Survey respondents addressed 17 questions about their health, exercise habits, workouts, and other insights.

Preferred method of workout recovery:

  • 35 percent said a good night’s sleep.
  • 33.4 percent hit the sauna or cold plunge.
  • 19.7 percent get in the post-workout stretch.
  • 9.4 percent look to a massage.

Workout routine breakdown:

  • 50.8 percent have an equal mix of cardio and strength training.
  • 18.2 percent admit their workouts were mainly cardio-focused.
  • 15.6 percent focused solely on strength training.

Other notable responses:

  • 36 percent would give up social media in exchange for losing 10 pounds. Nearly 6 percent of respondents would give up sex.
  • 45 percent said they exercise 4 to 5 times during a typical week.
  • 62.4 percent said they spend 1-2 hours at their health club when they visit.
  • 45 percent admit to never stretching or only for a few minutes per week.
  • 36.2 percent said they take multivitamins as their top supplement, followed by protein powder (23.6 percent).
  • 30 percent of respondents said Dwayne Johnson would be their top pick for a pickleball partner, followed by Jennifer Lopez at 22 percent.

Image courtesy of Life Time