UK cities who are working out the hardest

By now, we’re all very aware of the increasing health and fitness problems facing the UK. But we’re not a nation to sit down and give up! In fact, there’s more people than ever heading out to take the UK’s fitness industry from strength to strength. According to the Leisure DB 2018 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, the number of fitness memberships grew by 2% between 2017 and 2018, from 9.7 million to 9.9 million.

We’re definitely doing something to combat the concerning obesity rates in the UK, and a good thing too — around 62% of adults in the UK are classed as overweight or obese.

But with so much work left to do, Canondale road bikes supplier Leisure Lakes Bikes has explored the fitness industries across the UK. With data by CityMayors, they have been able to highlight which cities in the UK are leading the way to a fitter future.

London

Key info discovered:

Population — 7,074,265

Adult obesity rate — 20% (based on an average of the obesity rates for all London boroughs)

Athletics & running:

There are around 107 athletic clubs in a 10-mile range of London.

Swimming:

There are 17 swimming clubs in the capital city.

Gyms:

With 41 Pure Gyms and 9 Bannatyne’s health clubs*, there’d be an average spread of 141,485 members each if everyone in London signed up!

Cycling:

There are 117 cycling clubs within 15 kilometres of London.

Birmingham

Key info discovered:

Population — 1,020,589

Adult obesity rate — 27%

Athletics & running:

There are 15 athletics clubs to choose from in a 10-mile range of Birmingham.

Swimming:

Make a splash at one of Birmingham’s 12 swimming clubs.

Gyms:

Take your pick from nine Pure gyms and 4 Bannatyne’s health clubs* within 10 miles of Birmingham city. Each location would cater to 78,507 people if the whole population signed up.

Cycling:

There are 32 cycling clubs within 15 kilometres of Birmingham.

Leeds

Key info discovered:

Population — 726,939

Adult obesity rate — 22%

Athletics & running:

There are 28 athletics clubs in a 10-mile range of Leeds.

Swimming:

In Leeds, there are 2 swimming clubs.

Gyms:

With 8 Pure Gyms and 1 Bannatyne’s health club*, if the entire population was to sign a location of their choosing, there would be 80,771 people at each.

Cycling:

There are 33 cycling clubs within 15 kilometres of the city.

Glasgow

Key info discovered:

Population — 616,430

Adult obesity rate — 24%

Athletics & running:

There are 28 athletics clubs to choose from within a 10-mile range of Glasgow.

Swimming:

There are 3 swimming clubs in Glasgow.

Gyms:

In a 10 miles radius of Glasgow city centre, there are 9 Pure Gyms and 1 Bannatyne’s health club*. If everyone in Glasgow signed up to one, there would be 61,643 people at each of them!

Cycling:

There are 37 cycling clubs within 15 kilometres of Glasgow

Sheffield

Key info discovered:

Population — 530,375

Adult obesity rate — 25%

Athletics & running:

There are 16 athletics clubs within a 10-mile range of Sheffield.

Swimming:

Sheffield has 2 swimming clubs.

Gyms:

There are 3 Pure Gyms and 1 Bannatyne’s health club* within 10 miles of Sheffield city centre. The average spread would be 132,594 people to each location, if the entire population was to sign up to one of these establishments.

Cycling:

Within 15 kilometres of Sheffield, you can find 31 cycling clubs.

Bradford

Key info discovered:

Population — 483,422

Adult obesity rate — 28%

Athletics & running:

There are 17 athletics clubs.

Swimming:

There are 3 swimming clubs in Bradford.

Gyms:

There are 2 Pure Gyms within 10 miles of Bradford city centre, but no Bannatyne’s health clubs*. So, if everyone in Bradford signed up, the average spread would be 241,711 people to each location.

Cycling:

There are 42 cycling clubs within 15 kilometres of Bradford.

Liverpool

Key info discovered:

Population — 467,995

Adult obesity rate — 26%

Athletics & running:

There are 6 athletics clubs within 10-miles of Liverpool.

Swimming:

There are 4 swimming clubs in Liverpool.

Gyms:

There are 4 Pure Gyms but not a single Bannatyne’s health club* within 10 miles of Liverpool city centre. Each location would have 116,999 members if everyone signed up.

Cycling:

There are 15 cycling clubs within 15 kilometres of Liverpool.

Edinburgh

Key info discovered:

Population — 448,850

Adult obesity rate — 22%

Athletics & running:

There are 14 athletics clubs in a 10-mile range of Edinburgh.

Swimming:

There are 9 swimming clubs in Edinburgh.

Gyms:

There are 6 Pure Gyms and 2 Bannatyne’s health clubs* within 10 miles of Edinburgh city centre. That’s enough for 56,107 per location if everyone signed up.

Cycling:

16 cycling clubs make their home within 15 kilometres of Edinburgh.

Manchester

Key info discovered:

Population — 430,818

Adult obesity rate — 23%

Athletics & running:

There are 7 athletics clubs in a 10-mile range of Manchester.

Swimming:

There are 9 swimming clubs in Manchester.

Gyms:

There are 11 Pure Gyms and 3 Bannatyne’s health clubs* within 10 miles of Manchester city centre. They would each have 30,773 members if everyone in Manchester signed up.

Cycling:

There are 52 cycling clubs that operate within 15 kilometres of Manchester.

Bristol

Key info discovered:

Population — 399,633

Adult obesity rate — 21%

Athletics & running:

There are 5 athletics clubs in a 10-mile range of Bristol.

Swimming:

There are 6 swimming clubs in Bristol.

Gyms:

There are 3 Pure Gyms and 1 Bannatyne’s health club* within 10 miles of Bristol city centre. They would each serve 99,908 people if everyone in Bristol signed up.

Cycling:

There are 22 cycling clubs operating within 15 kilometres of Bristol.

*As UK’s leading operator in both the public and private sectors by number of clubs and members according to Leisure DB’s 2017 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, Pure Gym has been picked for this study. Similarly, due to being the UK’s largest independently owned health club operator, Bannatyne’s health clubs has been selected for this study also.