NEW YORK – A new Datamonitor report reveals that U.S. consumers don’t have to be professional athletes or bodybuilders to boost sales of sports nutrition products.

According to the report, consumers spent a total of nearly $4 billion in 2005 on sports-related foods and drinks, suggesting that the products are becoming more of a lifestyle category, as more "casual sportspeople" and even consumers who live sedentary lifestyles enjoy sports nutrition products.

“As well as benefiting athletes, sports food and drinks help ordinary people feel like they are living a healthier lifestyle,” Datamonitor analyst and report author John Band said in a press release. “Consumers are switching to sports drinks because they are perceived as a healthy alternative to cola or chocolate bars – even though they often aren’t.”

Sports bars, drinks and gels account for the most share of the sports nutrition market and represent the fastest growing category, notes the release. While sports-related foods and drinks are no longer "niche products that only target professional athletes and bodybuilders," those individuals are still the core users. However, recreational and lifestyle consumers are driving market growth. 

“People who don’t live sporty lifestyles are increasingly consuming sports food or drinks,” says Band. “Even though the actual health benefits of a sports drink or sports nutrition bars are generally confined to people doing regular, strenuous exercise, the sporty branding appeals to people’s desire for ‘wellness’ products. It might not have any real health benefits, but it makes people feel better about themselves.”