Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Information
Number of business segments	4
Segment Information
Net sales	$ 827,105	$ 789,227
Income (loss) from continuing operations	114,181	105,125
Depreciation and amortization	25,566	23,391
Capital expenditures	21,247	33,518
Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	827,105	789,227
Income (loss) from continuing operations	136,455	128,041
Depreciation and amortization	16,648	16,506
Capital expenditures	9,555	9,151
Corporate/Manufacturing
Segment Information
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(22,274)	(22,916)
Depreciation and amortization	8,918	6,885
Capital expenditures	11,692	24,367
Wholesale | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	505,275	494,204
Income (loss) from continuing operations	82,728	69,926
Depreciation and amortization	9,086	9,629
Capital expenditures	31	174
European Retail | Holland & Barrett
Segment Information
Number of stores	743
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | China
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	31
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | Singapore
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	26
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | United Arab Emirates
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	8
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | Cyprus
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	8
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | Malta
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	4
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | Gibraltar
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	1
European Retail | Holland & Barrett | Iceland
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	1
European Retail | GNC (UK) stores | U.K.
Segment Information
Number of stores	57
European Retail | De Tuinen | Netherlands
Segment Information
Number of stores	128
Number of franchised stores	7
European Retail | Nature's Way | Ireland
Segment Information
Number of stores	47
European Retail | Essenza | Belgium
Segment Information
Number of stores	13
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	204,912	178,983
Income (loss) from continuing operations	43,960	39,984
Depreciation and amortization	4,044	3,743
Capital expenditures	5,321	8,108
Direct Response / E-Commerce | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	60,362	58,685
Income (loss) from continuing operations	6,975	12,249
Depreciation and amortization	2,812	2,504
Capital expenditures	570	112
North American Retail | Vitamin World
Segment Information
Number of stores	423
North American Retail | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	56,556	57,355
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,792	5,882
Depreciation and amortization	706	630
Capital expenditures	$ 3,633	$ 757