Prediction of abandonment in Spanish fitness centres

Abstract

[Abstract] : Research question: The increase of physical exercise in fitness centres has turned these facilities in important active lifestylepromoters. However, only between 30% and 60% of subscribers still linked to the sports centre after a year. The aim of thisstudy is to design a model to predict the drop out in fitness centres. Research methods: Monthly data corresponding to theactual behaviour of 14,522 members of three sport centres in Spain were recorded over the course of one year. In order tocalculate the likelihood of drop out, logistic regressions were used to create predictive models for each centre. Results andfindings: It was possible to predict abandonment of users of sport centres from their historical behaviour, although thepredictive models obtained for each centre were not completely coincident. The effectiveness of the models was around70%. Implications: The analysis of users’ behaviour in a fitness centre can allow to avoid the drop out and therefore theabandonment of physical activity. Segmenting the customers based on the likelihood of drop out may be useful forimproving the effectiveness of the strategies of loyalty and for optimizing the organization of human and material resources.