The company's fitness clubs offer a variety of exercise equipment, swimming pool and spa, basketball and racquetball courts, indoor cycling, personal training, a children's area called "Kids Klub", and NrGize Lifestyle Cafe, which sells Smoothies, Drinks, Food, Sports Accessories, Towels and more. LA Fitness also provides corporate wellness programs; and group fitness programs.

LA Fitness is a privately owned company, owned by private equity firms Madison Dearborn Partners, Seidler Equity Partners and CIVC Partners.

LA Fitness was founded in 1984 by its current executive management team. The company's strategy is to purchase and operate under-performing fitness clubs. Through the mid-1990’s, the company expanded its club portfolio both by acquiring and turning around existing clubs and by developing, opening and operating newly constructed properties. In 1995, LA Fitness designed and built a new 45,000-square-foot (4,200 m2) multipurpose health and fitness club that has become the company’s signature look. LA Fitness then expanded its in-house development efforts for additional prototype clubs. In 1998, with 12 proven prototype clubs in Southern California and Arizona, the company rapidly increased the rate of new club development and rolled out its concept into several new geographic regions

On May 21, 2007, Madison Dearborn Partners announced that it acquired a 20% stake in L.A. Fitness International, from Seidler Equity Partners, CIVC Partners, and the management of the company for consideration of $600 million.

See also: 2009 Collier Township shooting

On August 4, 2009, a gunman opened fire at the LA Fitness health club in Collier Township, Pennsylvania, killing 3 people and wounding 15 others, before killing himself.