Elliptical Trainer Use Growing

A new study finds that, since 1997 use of Elliptical motion trainers has grown by approximately 160 percent. This makes it the fastest growing fitness trend in the US according to the Sporting Goods Manufactures Association's (SGMA) superstudy of sports participation. It found that interest in elliptical trainers grew from 2.4 million in 1997, to 6.2 million in 2000. The study also found that the average age of users is 36 years old, with more than 50 percent of participants being at least 35 years old. Female users outnumbered men (60% vs 40%), and older adults (55 and older) participation levels increased by more than 280%.

Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'. She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.