Young adults in the UK are shifting from cardio to strength training at gyms
Gym owners and experts report that younger people in the United Kingdom are increasingly choosing resistance workouts over traditional cardiovascular exercise.
Personal trainers see client changes
Antonia Duffin runs a women's gym in Manchester where she observes clients seeking strength rather than just weight loss. She notes that some members train to prepare for pregnancy or manage conditions like endometriosis. Hybrid competitions such as Hyrox have replaced running on treadmills for many of these younger users.
Sport England tracks gym growth
Data from Sport England shows more young adults now use exercise machines and weights compared to nine years ago. Experts say gyms provide resistance training that improves body composition faster than aerobic activity alone. Social media influencers also encourage followers to adopt these heavier lifting routines.
University experts explain the trend
Dr Andrew Scott from the University of Portsmouth states that resistance training shapes the body more quickly than cardio. He attributes this shift partly to people learning workout methods from online content creators. The focus on preventing osteoporosis is another reason younger generations are picking up weights.
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