Key Developments:
- Gen Z is increasingly incorporating strength training into workouts
- Gym use and fitness spending are rising among younger adults
- Running remains popular despite the shift towards weights
(BBC) — September 25, 2026: Younger adults in the UK are increasingly incorporating strength and resistance exercises into their fitness routines, while traditional cardio activities such as running and cycling have seen some decline in participation.
The trend is reflected in Sport England data cited in recent BBC reporting. Among 16-34-year-olds in England, participation in gym sessions increased from 17.9% in 2016-17 to 18.6% in 2024-25, while participation in weights sessions rose from 7.2% to 8.5% over the same period. Exercise-machine use also increased from 11.1% to 13.1%. The changes, however, have not been tested for statistical significance.
Antonia Duffin, a 34-year-old personal trainer who runs a women's gym in Manchester, said she has noticed greater interest in strength-based workouts among younger clients.
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"Some of my clients want to feel stronger, some want to get in shape for a baby and some are struggling with other conditions like endometriosis and want to feel better," Duffin said.
She also pointed to the popularity of hybrid workouts such as Hyrox, which combine strength, endurance and competitive elements.
Exercise expert Dr Andrew Scott of the University of Portsmouth said gyms provide access to a wider range of activities, including resistance training. He also highlighted the influence of social media, where fitness influencers frequently share workout routines and personal results.
For 19-year-old student Will Seward, the focus has shifted over time from running machines and exercise bikes to more explosive weight-based exercises. He said his training has improved his mood and made him feel healthier in everyday life.
Recent research has also highlighted the wider health benefits associated with strength training. The BBC report notes that completing the recommended two hours of strength training each week may provide some benefits comparable to aerobic exercise, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, while also supporting brain health and self-esteem.
However, the shift towards weights does not mean running has disappeared from the UK's fitness landscape.
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Running remains the most common form of exercise among young men and women, while organised running has continued to attract participants through community events such as parkrun. More than 1,400 free parkrun events take place across the UK each weekend, with participation spread across several age groups.
Prof Esther van Sluijs, professor of behavioural epidemiology at Loughborough University, said community-based exercise can provide an important social connection, particularly as working from home has become more common.
When it comes to fitness, Gen Z values their independence, is highly fluent in digital tools, and sees working out as part of their overall health and well-being. CREDIT: Glofox.
The social aspect of fitness is also reflected in newer research from ukactive. Its September 2026 research found that making new friends was an important factor in joining a gym for 51% of Gen Z respondents and 53% of Millennials, based on a survey of 6,395 UK adults.
Fitness is also becoming a significant spending priority for younger adults. Data cited in the latest report shows that 27% of 16-34-year-olds identified health and fitness or gym membership as a priority for disposable income in 2026, compared with 21% in 2024. The figures were based on surveys of 623 people in 2026 and 614 in 2024.
A 2026 survey by The Gym Group also found that around one-third of Gen Z respondents spent £26-50 a month on health and fitness, while a further quarter spent more than £50.
Events manager Cordelia Sheridan, 27, said she regards her £45 monthly gym membership "like an essential utility bill".
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Her routine now combines stair climbing with weights and resistance machines, after previously focusing largely on cardio.
"I want to go into my 30s being strong," Sheridan said, adding that exercising at the gym had also become "weirdly more sociable".
With social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplifying trends at lightning speed, workouts that might once have taken years to gain traction now explode into mainstream consciousness overnight. CREDIT: Gymsportz.
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a GP, personal trainer and triathlete, said the growing appeal of gyms, running clubs and activities such as padel is partly linked to their social nature.
"I think that's why activities like the gym, running clubs and padel have been successful - not because they prevent disease but because they are fun and sociable," he said.
The latest figures therefore point to a changing fitness landscape rather than a complete replacement of cardio by strength training. Younger people are increasingly combining weights, resistance exercises and hybrid workouts with activities such as running and other forms of cardiovascular exercise.
The article was originally published by the BBC on 24 September 2026, with the latest related fitness-sector data and reporting available through 25 September 2026.
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