Heath and Demographic Characteristics of Bodybuilding and Health Club Subscribers in the City of Amman

The study investigates the physical, health and demographic characteristics of individuals who frequent health and Bodybuilding clubs in the city of Amman. The study was conducted in the period from October 2010 to August 2012. The study consisted of (12367) random subjects from both sexes. Data collected included subjects’ age, weight, height, educational background, monthly household income, marital status, smoking habits, and nature of employment, medical conditions, and amount of physical workout. The results indicate that the highest percentage of participation in these health clubs is among the youth with a (60.9%). It also indicated that prevalence of thinness is highest among females while males exhibited a higher percentage of weight gain and obesity. Smoking cigarettes  proved to be more prevalent in males (15.6%) than in females (7.6%) with a general percentage of smoking of (12.4%) while the percentage of males (hookah) water pipe smoking amounted to (12.2%) as opposed to (10.5%) for females and a general rate of (11.5%). Furthermore, the percentage of subjects smoking both hookah and cigarettes was (11.2%) for males, (8.5%) females and an average of (10.5%) for both sexes. The study also indicated that the overwhelming percentage of club attendees are female university graduates with a percentage of (84.49%) while males fall behind at (74.93%) and a general percentage of (78.7%). As for the monthly household income, the study indicated that males fall behind yet again as opposed to females who exhibited significantly higher incomes. In the field of employment, the study shows that the highest percentage of subscribers is university students (30.53%). As for the reasons behind joining a health club, the results indicate that males’ objective is to build muscle mass (14.9%) while females strive to get fit and healthy (36.6%). Males’ medical conditions indicate a rise in Diabetes with a (7.6%) while females major health issue is lower back pain (10.9%). In light of all these findings, the researcher recommends that physical training in these facilities be supervised by specially trained individuals.