Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 item	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Information
Number of business segments			4
Segment Information
Net sales	$ 806,961	$ 802,829	$ 2,413,092	$ 2,349,930
Income (loss) from operations	79,288	100,443	243,738	229,057
Depreciation and amortization	27,309	31,274	78,709	83,944
Capital expenditures	25,192	31,162	72,436	96,854
Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	806,961	802,829	2,413,092	2,349,930
Income (loss) from operations	101,823	127,721	316,287	343,185
Depreciation and amortization	17,561	15,830	51,023	47,090
Capital expenditures	17,211	11,426	40,553	27,767
Corporate/Manufacturing
Segment Information
Income (loss) from operations	(22,535)	(27,278)	(72,549)	(114,128)
Depreciation and amortization	9,748	15,444	27,686	36,854
Capital expenditures	7,981	19,736	31,883	69,087
Wholesale | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	471,344	489,228	1,420,067	1,429,103
Income (loss) from operations	41,355	65,995	143,087	162,886
Depreciation and amortization	9,032	9,171	27,199	27,319
Capital expenditures	41	177	244	407
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	215,328	191,692	635,556	557,779
Income (loss) from operations	48,386	45,478	142,260	127,979
Depreciation and amortization	4,807	3,544	12,984	10,405
Capital expenditures	12,380	7,494	27,248	21,412
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett
Segment Information
Number of stores	746		746
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | China
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	28		28
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | Singapore
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	27		27
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | United Arab Emirates
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	9		9
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | Cyprus
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	9		9
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | Malta
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	4		4
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | Gibraltar
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	1		1
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Holland & Barrett | Iceland
Segment Information
Number of franchised stores	1		1
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | De Tuinen | Netherlands
Segment Information
Number of stores	138		138
Number of franchised stores	7		7
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | GNC (UK) stores | U.K.
Segment Information
Number of stores	54		54
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | GNC (UK) stores | Ireland
Segment Information
Number of stores	47		47
European Retail | Reportable Business Segments | GNC (UK) stores | Belgium
Segment Information
Number of stores	13		13
Direct Response/E-Commerce | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	63,940	63,670	187,904	186,252
Income (loss) from operations	9,009	9,001	23,372	32,325
Depreciation and amortization	2,830	2,506	8,475	7,515
Capital expenditures	402	2,280	1,084	3,048
North American Retail | Reportable Business Segments
Segment Information
Net sales	56,349	58,239	169,565	176,796
Income (loss) from operations	3,073	7,247	7,568	19,995
Depreciation and amortization	892	609	2,365	1,851
Capital expenditures	$ 4,388	$ 1,475	$ 11,977	$ 2,900
North American Retail | Reportable Business Segments | Vitamin World
Segment Information
Number of stores	419		419