According to new data, fitness is the most popular physical activity in the world: 20% of respondents said that they do fitness in a normal week. The second and third most popular sports are running (19%) and cycling (13%). These are the results of an Ipsos online survey conducted between June 25 and July 9, 2021.

On the other hand, the study also showed that 38% of respondents stated that they do not exercise. These figures illustrate the enormous social challenge in relation to the extent of inactivity and the central and crucial role of the fitness and exercise sector in tackling the problem of inactivity.

Encouragingly, as new figures show, there are positive signs that the fitness and exercise sector is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many operators reported a high number of new entrants and rising membership numbers, as well as increased usage compared to before the pandemic.