Britons spent £250m on unused health and fitness clothing last year, according to the 2016 Fitness Knowledge Report
If you intended to join the gym or start an exercise class last year but didn't get beyond buying the outfit – you're not alone.
Last year Britons spent almost £250m on fitness clothing and equipment that went unused, according to the 2016 Fitness Knowledge Report.
UK adults spent an average of £52 each in 2015 on health and fitness clothing and equipment, with one in 10 admitting they didn't use what they'd bought even once, according to the survey of 1,000 UK adults carried out by beabetteryoucourses.co.uk.
While one in five Britons had some form of gym equipment at home, the majority – 53 per cent – used it less than once per month. In addition, women aged 26-45 years old were the most likely to have some sort of home gym equipment – but around a third admitted this was more to do with feeling self-conscious while exercising in public than with the cost.
The research also found that gym-goers spent an average of £550 on gym membership in 2015, despite only having been 13.5 times in that time – a cost of £40 per visit.
"When making the commitment to getting fit and healthy, the investment should be more than just financial – it’s about investing the time and mental energy, as well as physical, into making a lifestyle change," Simon Bubb, managing director at beabetteryoucourses.co.uk, said.
"It’s very easy to sign up to a gym, go shopping and kit yourself out with the latest fitness gear, but what use is it if that investment lays dormant?
"British adults should consider the most effective way for them to get fit and healthy which fits in with their budget – whether that’s a combination of pay-as-you-go fitness classes and home workouts, or personal training sessions to keep them on track. It has to work for the individual, and they need to be able to maintain it so their investment isn’t in vain."