1. The Global Health and Fitness Industry at a Glance: Fast, Fit, Flexible, Functional, Funny, Fashionable and Fanatic; Jeroen Scheerder, Hanna Vehmas, and Kobe Helsen. - 2. The Weight of Numbers: Prevalence of Overweight, Sedentary Behaviour and Sport/Fitness Participation from a Comparative Pan-European Perspective; Jeroen Scheerder and Kobe Helsen. - 3.  The (R)evolution of the Flemish Fitness Industry; Kobe Helsen, Joris Corthouts, Erik Thibaut and Jeroen Scheerder. - 4. Bulgarian Fitness Industry: Policies, Processes and Providers; Ivan Sandanski and Vassil Girginov. - 5. Current Trends in the Fitness Movement in Cyprus; Nicos Kartakoullis, Christina Loizou, Despina Georgiadou and Mihcalis Terezopoulos. - 6. Fitness in Denmark: A Unique Combination of the Commercial and Non-profit Sectors; Bjarne Ibsen. - 7. Engagement in Fitness Activities in England; Andrew Spiers, Steve Osborne and Monica Li. - 8. Fitness in Finland: Department Stores of Healthy Life Styles; Antti Laine and Hanna Vehmas. - 9. Fitness in France: A Mature Sector Looking for Growing Markets and Segments; Guillaume Routier, Bénédicte Vignal and Guillaume Bodet. - 9. Development of the Fitness Industry in Germany; Sören Dallmeyer, Kirstin Hallmann and Christoph Breuer. - 11. The Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Private Fitness Sector in Greece; Kostas Alexandris, Theopistos Kenanidis, Panagiota Balaska and Apostolia Ntovoli. - 12. The Shape of the Fitness Industry in Ireland; Ann Bourke.- 13. Fitness in Italy: Body Culture, Well-being and Active Lifestyles; Antonio Borgogni, Simone Digennaro and Giovanna Russo. - 14. The Netherlands: Growing Market, Shifting Segments; Paul Hover and Remco Hoekman. - 15. Norwegian Fitness Industry: From Bodybuilding to a Public Health Partner; Solfrid Bratland-Sanda, Tor Helge Vikøren Myhre and Jan Ove Tangen. - 16. A Growing Sector After the Impact of the Great Recession in Spain; Ramon Llopis-Goig and Jorge Sánchez-Martin. - 17. Current Situation of Fitness Sport in Switzerland; Claudia Klostermann, Markus Lamprecht, Hanspeter Stamm and Siegfried Nagel. - 18. Fitness (Related) Trends Within and between Countries: Towards a Fit (in) Europe?; Kobe Helsen and Jeroen Scheerder. - 19. Fitness: The New Black or Even a Religion?; Hanna Vehmas and Jeroen Scheerder. 

This book explores the rise, size and shape of the European fitness industry by using harmonised data as well as in-depth analyses of national surveys in fifteen European countries. Following an introduction to the socio-historical and conceptual aspects of fitness, the collection presents the scope of fitness as a business and participatory activity. Furthermore, both policy and governance issues as well as community and supply angles are considered.

Drawing on this unique material, the book will appeal to students and scholars of sport business, sport economics, sport management, and social sport sciences, but also to administrators, policymakers and entrepreneurs in the international and national sport and health community.

“This comparative survey outlines a convincing and updated scenario of the European fitness system. The research describes effectively the variety and complexity of a social, economic and cultural environment still too little investigated despite its demographic dimensions. In this way it offers an unprecedented overview of European sports and physical-motor practice intended as a new right of citizenship.”

 – Nicola Porro, Professor of Sociology, University of Cassino & Southern Lazio, Italy

 

“Fitness is a major social phenomenon in contemporary societies and a very dynamic one. This book charts the rise and development of fitness contributing greatly to its knowledge and appreciation.”

 – Roberta Sassatelli, Professor of Sociology, University of Milan, Italy

 

“This collectionprovides a comprehensive, comparative account of the historical development and sustained boom of the global fitness and health club industries. The evidence-led chapters examine trends in fitness participation, provision and governance across fifteen European case studies. This is an indispensable resource for scholars and practitioners alike, offering critical insights into the past, present and future of physical fitness.”

 – Jennifer Smith Maguire, Professor of Cultural Production and Consumption, Sheffield Hallam University, UK

Uses statistical data to provide a framework for cross-national comparison Presents an up-to-date portrait of the characteristics of the fitness sector in different European countries and examines the diversity of fitness in Europe Includes case studies by researchers from different European countries

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