More Brits keeping fit on holidays: survey

More than a third (39%) of Brits heading abroad this year will exercise on their holiday, according to new research by Club Med.  

The study, commissioned to look into the exercise habits of holidaying Brits, reveals that almost half (44%) of Brits are more likely to work out on holiday than they would have done five years ago.

The top motivating workout factor is being able to indulge in holiday food guilt-free, with over a quarter (27%) stating this as the motivation to exercise on holiday.

Almost one-in-five (16%) of Brits want to discover sports and activities not available to them in the UK, with a tenth (11%) using holidays as an opportunity to get fit with friends and family. Social media also plays a part with 11% of people citing social media and celeb inspiration as the drive behind burning calories abroad.

The study reveals men are more motivated by how they look in swimwear than women on holiday, with 28% of men exercising in order to look slim in their swimwear – compared to just 18% of women.

A quarter (24%) of people are most likely to work out on a family holiday compared to just 16% of people who work out when away with a group of friends. A fifth (19%) want to stay fit for their other half, by working out when away together.

Despite increased demand for fitness abroad, less than a fifth of people (19%) rate gym equipment in their resort as ‘important’ or ‘very important,’ with over two-thirds (36%) more willing to work out abroad if the gym equipment was in the sun, and a fifth (20%) more likely to work out if they could get a tan at the same time.