Americans Spent $5 Billion on Exercise Gear

Americans trying to fight the flab spent $5 billion on home exercise equipment last year, the Fitness Products Council said. More than 50 million Americans say they have bought home exercise equipment, a survey commissioned by the council found. The survey of 1,600 adults found that 35% of those who had equipment owned free weights, 25% had treadmills and 23% had stationary bicycles. They spent an average of $473, the survey found. More than a third admitted they were simply letting their equipment gather dust. Of them, 42% said they found the equipment was boring to use, and 41% said they did not have time. And most said they learned from their “mistake.” More than 88% of the users surveyed said they will not buy home exercise equipment in the future.