There was a 6 per cent increase in sales of fitness kit to more than US$4bn (£2.3bn, 3.35bn euro).

Around 80 per cent of sales were for the home market.

The top five fitness-related activities are freeweights, treadmills, stretching, walking and running.

The market for fitness-related products is expanding as baby boomers (people aged between 42 and 60 years old) focus increasingly on health.

This market is estimated to represent 77 million people in the US in 2006.

The research also found that, apart from fitness, participation in most sports and outdoor activities has been stable or in decline for at least 10 years.

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