Record numbers of Britons are going to the gym, as the desire of many gen Zers to socialise while getting fit instead of drinking in the pub drives an unprecedented surge in membership, a report shows.
In all, 11.5 million people aged 16 and over– a new high – now belong to a gym in the UK, a rise of 1.6 million from 2022. It means one in six people have taken out a membership.
Younger adults are the key demographic behind the boom, according to the report’s authors, UKActive, the trade body that represents most of Britain’s fitness operators.
The growth is particularly evident among generation Z – people born between 1997 and 2012, who are between 13 and 28 – who already have a reputation as the healthiest generation ever.
“[This] is a significant moment as it shows that more people are making a conscious decision to get active in order to improve their physical and often also their mental health,” said Huw Edwards, UKActive’s chief executive.
“We are witnessing strong demand among all age groups and increasing popularity among gen Z, with health and fitness clubs experiencing growing demand for services such as group exercise, strength training and cardio workouts.
“Young people are seeing health and fitness as part of their identity and a non-negotiable when it comes to their personal priorities. Many of them are telling us they prefer going to the gym rather than more traditional venues for socialising such as the pub.
“With the right support, this could become the most health-aware generation ever.”
The findings tally with previous reports by Sport England and its “moving communities” research into physical activity that growing numbers of teenagers are taking part in fitness activities.
A “generational shift” in gym visiting has been taking place in recent years, states the report, which is UKActive’s first in-depth analysis of membership of health and fitness clubs across the UK.
“Younger generations are demonstrating higher levels of physical activity and gym membership, indicating a shift in societal priorities towards health and wellbeing, and suggesting that for younger people, gym membership is essential.”
Older people are the most likely to avoid joining up because they believe they do not need to, “indicating that the positive shift in mindset towards fitness is more prevalent among younger age groups”, the report adds.
The findings appear to embellish gen Z’s reputation as having healthier habits and lifestyles than previous generations.
David Minton, the founder of Leisure Database, a specialist fitness market analysis firm, said: “The younger generation are also the healthier generation because they are drinking less alcohol than their predecessors and are much more conscious about what they eat, as evidenced by the increase in veganism, low-sugar diets and consumption of sourdough breads.”
But young people may be going for reasons not connected to their health, Minton suggested. “Gen Z are also going to the gym in order to meet a romantic partner and to increase their network of friends because, while they spend a lot of time on social media, the gym offers an in-person experience rather than a virtual experience.
“For them, gym-going is all about the social element. It’s not about losing weight, because most of them don’t need to.”
The value of the UK health and fitness market grew to £5.7bn by last year, while the number of clubs stood at 5,607, which between them saw 616m visits.
An increase in lower-cost gyms and those offering access on a pay-as-you-go basis has also helped to increase participation, the report says.
When gym members were asked what motivated them to join, 83% cited improving their physical strength and fitness and 76% said boosting their mental wellbeing, including tackling anxiety and depression. But 75% wanted to improve their confidence and appearance, and 68% to sleep better.
The proportion of people in the UK who belong to a gym has risen to 16.9%, one of the highest figures in Europe.
