THE fight is on for Mackay's fitness dollar.

With more than two dozen gyms, fitness centres and studios plus bootcamps and personal trainers, the fitness boom, which coincided with the mining downturn, could well become a case of survival of the fittest.

Some operators, like City Fitness and Snap Fitness, are increasing in size and offering more.

Solutions Gym has been here 25 years and new owner Michelle Bofinger says it will survive because it has built a good client base and offers a different approach, making it unique.

"I don't know how they will all go. Ours has a family feel and also offers swimming lessons," she said.

"Obviously all these new operators are of some concern but we have been around a long time.

"It is a hangover from the mining boom. All these new ones have arrived here... possibly too late."

City Fitness operates two gyms and owner Steve Eden said while there probably were too many at the moment, he had expanded at Mount Pleasant because "you need to move forward to provide good facilities to clients".

Mr Eden said the attraction had been the mining boom and gyms, like restaurants and engineering businesses, had "popped up" on every corner. However, he didn't know if all would be here in the long term.

Snap Fitness North Mackay manager Mat Dunn said the gym was being extended to include X-treme fitness and power lifting, which had become popular, and would cater for more clients.

Mr Dunn said the number of gyms in Mackay was "ridiculous". He said many were "value adding" with free programs and training assessments.

"There was only three or four when we came. The competition is very tight, it's extremely competitive. With the downturn everyone is feeling the pinch.

"I would not say oversupply but anyone else looking at coming in here would be crazy," he said.