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sales The number of fitness equipment is increasing – by 15.1% great britain Over the past year, new figures show.
Worldpanel said the fitness equipment market – which includes exercise machines such as bikes, treadmills and cross trainers, mats and gym balls, weights and other strength training equipment and smaller items such as yoga and Pilates equipment – grew by £396 million in the year to October 5.
This category also includes fitness technology like pedometers and heart rate monitors.
Over the same period, the number of buyers in the category grew by 7% – reaching 6.95 million, Worldpanel, formerly known as KantarSaid.
The number of trips made by consumers to purchase equipment – which includes online shopping baskets in addition to bricks and mortar stores – increased 10.7% year over year.
The figures come as home exercise brands are also reporting rising numbers of customer sign-ups.
Fitness platform Zwift said it saw a 65% increase in active users in October compared to August, which it attributed to people turning to virtual travel workouts to beat the “winter slump.”
Its data shows that 75% Britain Motivational bearers admitted to being depressed about exercise in the winter, and 83% “daydreamed” about avoiding travel during the dark months.
Zwift, which uses multiplayer gaming technology to allow cyclists and runners to train and compete on virtual destinations including London, New York and Paris, found that 44% of Britons said exotic views would motivate them to exercise more regularly, while 30% valued the escapism, making them forget they were exercising.
Dr Eleanor Bryant, a psychologist at the University of Bradford, said: “More people are turning to immersive fitness platforms like Zwift during the darker months.
“Reduced daylight can disrupt our circadian rhythms and reduce serotonin levels, which affects both motivation and mood.
“Engaging in structured, enjoyable exercise – especially when paired with stimulating visuals and social connections – can counteract these effects and substantially promote well-being.”
The increase in figures of home fitness activities is as follows puregym Last month it revealed it planned to open 60 new gyms in the UK this year amid a growing number of people making fitness a priority.
The gym operator, which is known for keeping many of its sites open 24 hours, said it is targeting rural areas and small towns as well as big cities.
Rebecca Passmore, chief operating officer of PureGym, said its business model is “resonating in an era where people are not only placing greater importance on their health and wellness, but are also increasingly focused on value for money”.
The gym group also revealed last month that it is working on plans to open 16 new gyms this year to meet the strong demand among health-conscious Gen Z customers.
It reported that revenues in the six months to June 30 rose 8% to £121 million from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, memberships rose 5% at the end of the period compared with a year earlier, also boosted by more regular visits to the gym by its customers.