Young adults under 29 are leading a new health and wellbeing revolution. Dark, crowded, loud spaces are now out; vibrant, communal, alcohol-free meet-ups — with smoothie in hand — are in. Nightclub energy is being reimagined in brighter, healthier, and more social ways.
Gen Z is also redirecting their spending: gym subscriptions are increasingly replacing nights out on alcohol. Gyms are evolving into alternative social spaces, offering safe and healthier environments to connect.
The Gym Group report that in 2025, 44% of Gen Z work out to socialise with their friends, up from 37% the previous year.
According to UKactive, 75% of 16-to-28-year-olds participate in strength training at least twice a week, a higher proportion than any other age group, with a 12% rise in young people exercising at gyms between 2017 and 2024.
Monthly spending on memberships, apps, and fitness equipment averages £48.81, up 17% from 2024.
From a sport and exercise perspective, it is encouraging to see young people embracing gym culture — particularly young women. While gyms have traditionally been male-dominated, ongoing efforts to make them more inclusive are reshaping the environment. Gen Z’s preferences are likely to influence how gyms operate for years to come, fostering positive, welcoming spaces for diverse demographic and disability groups.
However, gyms are not cheap. There is an implicit expectation that young people earn enough to afford membership, potentially creating barriers for those with lower incomes. This raises an important question: are some young people being excluded from the social and health benefits of exercise? Sport club fees are also rising, further compounding the challenge.
Exploring solutions to this cost gap is crucial to ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has opportunities to exercise and socialise with their peers.