The fitness industry in the 1990s was still young but slowly maturing. More people were joining health clubs, and the number of facilities grew with them. By this decade, many people had accepted that exercising improved their health, but the focus of most health club members was still on how to improve their appearance.

The industry faced some challenges in this decade, especially in the early 1990s as the savings and loan crisis helped spur a recession that caused money to be tight and caused some club closings as well as the Chapter 11 filing of four Naiman Co.-owned Sporting Clubs. Still, the health club industry held steady, and by the end of the decade, was going strong with some consolidation of clubs.

The decade also was a time when true brands were created with companies such as 24 Hour Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, Wellbridge and Family Fitness Centers.

Jump to:

• 24 Hour Fitness
• Bally Total Fitness
• Club Sports International (Wellbridge)
• Family Fitness Centers

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