Fitness Flop! New study reveals three quarters of Brits don’t get enjoyment from exercise

• 74% of Brits admit that they don’t get enjoyment from their current exercise routine

• Cost is the biggest factor causing Brits to quit the gym in 2023, with three gym memberships cancelled on average across a lifetime

• Expert PT of five years, Connor Malone, shares his top tips for overcoming ‘gym fear’

A new study into fitness and exercise habits across the UK has delved into the motivating factors behind Brits’ desire to work out and it’s been revealed that only 24% of Brits actually enjoy the time they spend working up a sweat.

The results form part of a wider study into Brits’ relationships with movement and exercise across a lifetime, which has been conducted by Next in collaboration with Nike.

The study also revealed that the average Brit cancels at least three gym memberships throughout their lifetime, with men cancelling twice as many as women .

Why are Brits exercising?

After asking Brits what motivates them to exercise, a quarter (26%) responded with the very simple reason of enjoyment.

A fifth (22%) of Brits use exercise as an excuse to get outside in the fresh air, whilst one in ten see it as an opportunity to socialise with others. Bearing these motivating factors in mind, it isn’t surprising that a third (32%) of the nation credit exercise with benefiting their overall mental health and wellbeing.

Exercise and fitness are so intrinsically linked with the end goal of weight loss, but only 27% of Brits use this as their motivation to work out, whilst 14% are driven by a desire to hone or maintain their dream physique.

With so many Brits being motivated by aesthetic improvement above all else, it makes sense that a huge proportion of the nation, (74%) are not enjoying their current exercise and movement regime.

Why do Brits break-up with the gym?

The gym environment and exercise go hand-in-hand, with 53% of Brits having called it quits with a gym membership at some point in their life.

The cost investment of a membership is the biggest factor in a third (31%) of Brits’ decision to break up with the gym. According to Money Advice, the average cost of a monthly gym membership in 2023 is £40, however this greatly varies depending on location and facilities.

The top reasons Brits quit their gym memberships

Secondary to the obstacle of cost, one fifth (22%) of Brits simply didn’t enjoy working out in a public gym environment or got no happiness from the process so cancelled their memberships, which could be linked to the fifth (20%) that cancelled because their gym was frequently too busy.

Meanwhile the struggle for a work/life balance was enough for 14% of the nation to cancel their memberships, with 12% admitting  to being too tired and lacking in energy from their everyday lives to continue their regime.

Interestingly, more than one in ten (12%) Brits admit to cancelling their membership because they felt so uncomfortable in the gym environment that they didn’t want to return – with 22% of those aged between 16-24 citing this as the biggest factor.

Expert tips on how to be confident in the gym

Next enlisted an expert personal trainer of five years, Conor Malone, to comment on why many Brits struggle to maintain a committed relationship with the gym and has provided top tips to help overcome feelings of gym intimidation.

“A common issue is the lack of knowledge or guidance. Many people don’t feel confident in what they are doing when in a gym environment which makes them feel uncomfortable. This also means many people do not get the most out of a workout and so do not see much progress or value in the gym.

“Getting the most out of the gym is all about confidence, in both yourself and in your knowledge. People will often only feel lost when they are unsure of what machines to use and how to use them, which can result in feelings of embarrassment that can make us nervous about returning if we think we’re going to look silly in the eyes of more experienced gym goers.

“When starting out it’s great to either go with a friend or enlist the guidance of a personal trainer, even if it’s just to give you a few initial pointers.”

For a more detailed breakdown of different fitness and exercise trends across an average Brit’s lifetime, see the full details of the study here: https://www.next.co.uk/edited/nike-fitness-by-numbers

You can also view Nike’s full range of fitness clothing to help kit you out whatever your exercise or movement requirements: https://www.next.co.uk/shop/brand-nike