MindBody, the leading technology platform for the fitness, beauty and wellness services industries, has named the top 50 major wellness markets in the U.S.

The MindBody Wellness Index is a first-of-its-kind research study that analyzes consumer attitudes and behaviors, together with 'wellness business' performance, the company says. 

Rick Stollmeyer, co-founder/CEO, MindBody, explains, "We set out to create an index that takes a detailed look at the overall wellness marketplace in America's largest cities. The insights from our first survey are fascinating. It shows the wellness market is strong overall, but there is still plenty of room for growth. For example, the Washington D.C. area reports that only 40 percent of residents rate fitness as a priority."

The findings reveal that less than half of Americans report a desire to prioritize fitness in their lives, and that time and cost are the leading barriers to leading and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

"The wellness industry is poised for growth and based on our research there is clearly enormous opportunity for wellness products and services to expand in the years ahead," said Stollmeyer. "Even the strongest wellness markets in our index hold room for improvement. Our goal is to continue helping people across America lead healthier, happier lives by connecting them to the wellness services that matter most to them."

Top 10 Strongest Wellness Markets in America 

1.     Austin-Round Rock, TX
2.     San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
3.     Raleigh, NC
4.     Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
5.     Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
6.     Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
7.     Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
8.     San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
9.     Salt Lake City, UT
10.   San Diego-Carlsbad, CA

See the full rankings here.