Politicians from all parties have been challenged to prove they are Fit for Office this month, in a competition that will really make them sweat.

Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.

The aim of the challenge is to encourage Parliamentarians and their staff to move more and recognise the importance of physical activity for the nation’s health, wellbeing, and growth. The winning office will be crowned Westminster’s Physical Activity Champions and the annual competition has been fiercely contested over the past three years.

So far this year, 262 entrants have signed up to take part, representing 70 Parliamentary offices. Last year’s challenge saw 207 participants take up the challenge from 50 Parliamentary offices.

Fit for Office works by tracking participants’ physical activity levels on Technogym’s app, using ‘MOVES’ points which are based on the intensity of activity over a period of time. The app can be synchronized with a wearable fitness device, and the individual scores are tallied to establish a league table showing the position of each office.

Last year’s challenge saw the office of Steve Witherden MP (Labour) named winners and Bob Blackman MP (Conservatives) was the highest-scoring MP.

The backdrop of this year’s challenge is declining physical and mental health across the population, with workplace sickness costing £138bn and poor mental health among employees costing businesses £51bn a year, with about 9.2 million people classed as economically inactive.

Studies show physical activity helps to prevent 20 chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many types of cancer, MSK conditions, depression and anxiety, and dementia.

The physical activity sector generates more than £10.5bn in savings every year by reducing cases of disease and relieving the demands on health and social care.

Cameron Saunders, CEO of ukactive, said: “This challenge is a great way to help show our politicians why physical activity is crucial for their health and productivity and for the nation’s too.

“The competing demands of work and technology today force many people to sacrifice time for exercise, including those in Westminster.

“This is a chance for our political leaders to go beyond a quick jog for the cameras and commit to getting fit.

“Supported by Technogym and our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres, we want to see Parliamentarians celebrate the essential role of physical activity in the lives of their constituents.”

Ben Sandham, Country Manager of Technogym UK, said: “We believe movement is one of the most powerful drivers of health, performance, and overall wellbeing – not only for individuals, but for society as a whole. In a world where time is increasingly compressed and sedentary behaviours are rising, it’s essential to re‑engineer how and where people move.

“At Technogym, our vision is to seamlessly integrate physical activity into everyday life, transforming environments into active, engaging ecosystems that support both body and mind.

“Initiatives like Fit for Office perfectly illustrate this approach – demonstrating how intelligent technology, smart design, and personalised experiences can bring movement into even the busiest working environments without disrupting productivity.

“By embedding wellness into the daily routine, we don’t just encourage activity – we enable sustainable behavioural change, improve energy levels, and enhance both individual performance and organisational outcomes. Because for us, movement is not an add‑on – it’s an essential foundation for a better quality of life.” T

o find out more or to join the challenge, email: [email protected]

UK Active has issued the following statement in response to Alan Milburn’s Interim Report into Young People and Work.

Cameron Saunders, CEO of UK Active, said: “This report into the rising levels of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) reveals the scale of the crisis, and the role of health-related inactivity in it.

“It is particularly concerning to see the high levels of mental ill-health among young people and acting as a major barrier to education and employment.

“Physical activity plays a central role in supporting young people’s mental wellbeing. ukactive’s 2025 Mental Health Report showed 72 per cent of people with mental health conditions believed that being physical activity helps them stay in work. 

“However, too many young people remain inactive. Sport England’s data reveals do not meet the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines for physical activity. For the Government to harness the untapped potential of our sector, young people must be supported into physical activity.

“Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres also offer a variety of pathways for young people into the workplace, with a younger-than-average workforce – 30 per cent more 16–24-year-olds working in the sector than the wider economy. As the industry continues to grow, the Government can maximise the opportunities it presents for employment and upskilling alongside health.

“Our sector stands ready to work with Government to address this crisis, as demonstrated by the sector’s involvement in the Keep Britain Working initiative. Further interventions on tax and regulatory reform, high streets support and investment would incentivise young people to become more physically active, healthier, and more able to enter the workforce.” 

UK Active and This Girl Can have published a new guide to help fitness and leisure facilities communicate their policies and procedures around sexual harassment and intimidation, as the sector continues to create safer spaces for women and girls.

 The guide, launched today on the ‘Safer Spaces to Move’ resource hub, covers a range of practical examples and tips to improve communication with gym members – helping to build trust and confidence, and ensuring everyone feels informed, welcomed and respected. Titled ‘From Policy to Practice: How to Share Your Stance Against Harassment in Your Facility’, the guidance includes support on:

• How to communicate clearly to visitors and members that sexual harassment and intimidation are not tolerated in facilities.
• How operators can ensure that visitors and members know how to report any concerns, what will happen next if they do, and what support is available to them.
• How to build trust and confidence with their visitors and members in an operator’s policies and training so more members feel able to report issues should they arise.

The guide was developed in partnership between UK Active and the This Girl Can campaign, run by Sport England.

This included consultation with the Safer Spaces to Move Taskforce, which is made up of representatives from across the industry, including operators of all sizes, from the public and private sectors.

Its development was informed by a series of focus groups with women and men to put members’ voices first, providing in-depth insight into what members expect from operator communications, and how messaging can best build trust, convey safety and strengthen confidence.

The guide has been designed for operators across the physical activity sector and is set to be utilised at all levels within an organisation, from the operations teams to marketing and member communications. It follows the publication of resources in July 2025 which covered a range of guidance and staff training modules to ensure operators have the foundational protocols in place to respond to any instances of sexual harassment and intimidation.

Clear progress has been made since the Safer Spaces to Move project began in 2021, with facility operators embracing its proactive, prevention-first approach. In 2022*, less than half of female gym users (46 per cent) were aware that their centre had a code of conduct or safety policies, while 15 per cent of women who did not report an incident of harassment or intimidation said it was because they did not know who to report it to. 

Today, awareness has increased, with nearly two thirds**(63 per cent) of women aged 16-34 aware their centre has a code of conduct. 

Gyms, pools and leisure centres play an essential role in supporting women and girls to be active. The latest UK Health & Fitness Market Report shows that 11.5 million people over the age of 16 are members of a health and fitness club.

Sport England’s latest Active Lives Survey showed that fitness activities among women and girls aged 16 and over have seen the largest growth across all types of activity from the previous year (1.9 per cent) – with 7.7 million women having taken part at least twice in the previous 28 days. This figure has grown by almost 1.4 million since the Safer Spaces to Move project launched in 2021 and participation by women in fitness activities in public sector leisure facilities specifically has increased by 12 per cent in the past 12 months.

Hattie Jones, Head of Membership and Sector Development at UK Active, said: “This guide is another step forward in the sector’s commitment to ensure that every woman and girl feels informed, confident and empowered to use the broad range of services within our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres.

“Given the growing demand our sector sees from women and girls and the popularity of these services, it is vital that all facilities play their part in addressing the societal issues of sexual harassment and intimidation.

“We are proud to work with This Girl Can and the dedicated Taskforce to develop this practical resource, which gives operators practical examples and ideas to reassure and support new and existing members to feel confident and safe.”

Claire Edwards, Head of Campaign Activation from This Girl Can, said: “Every part of society has a duty to prevent harassment against women and girls. With millions of women and girls using gyms and leisure centres, the fitness sector must be ready to tackle harassment and intimidation, and today’s launch reaffirms our commitment to helping gyms and leisure centres put stronger safety standards into action.

“Preventing harassment before it happens is just as crucial as responding when it does. Only by ensuring women feel safe and confident when getting active, can we truly progress This Girl Can’s aim to tackle the gender activity gap.”

Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Women and girls have the right to go to fitness facilities to work out, keep active and have fun without being intimidated or harassed.

“As a Government, we are committed to building a healthier nation by making physical activity truly accessible and welcoming to all, and these guidelines will play a vital role in ensuring gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools are equipped to play their part.”

Jill Davidson, Head of Marketing, Communications & Sales at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Our participation in the Safer Spaces to Move Taskforce has further strengthened our commitment to vigilance and continuous improvement [to combatting harassment and intimidation].

“The project has provided us with fresh perspectives and practical tools, enhancing our staff’s confidence and deepening organisational understanding of how to maintain proactive safety measures.

“We have reviewed and refined our practices, ensuring that our approach to safeguarding remains robust and responsive, and that women and girls always feel safe, respected, and empowered in our centres.”

To access the new guide, visit the Safer Spaces to Move resource hub here.

To hear from two UK Active Members about how they are set to use the guide, read the blog here.

*Research carried out in 2022 by Walnut Unlimited, commissioned by UK Active and Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign. 
** Sport England – Activity Check-in Wave 20 (Jan 2026) – Issues of safety and harassment in leisure settings.

Nearly half of UK adults (43 per cent) are failing to meet the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) strength guidelines and one in three (32 per cent) do no activity to strengthen their muscles at all, according to a new report from ukactive and Les Mills.

National guidelines* from the CMO state that all adults should do muscle-strengthening activities for all major muscle groups at least two days a week – from strength or resistance training to everyday activities such as heavy gardening or carrying heavy shopping.  Strength-based activities are essential for supporting flexibility, balance, and coordination, and evidence shows it can help an individual’s ability to perform daily tasks, protecting against injuries and reducing risks of frailty and falls. 

The report, ‘Shaping a New Era of Strength Training’, from ukactive, the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, and global fitness firm Les Mills – with consumer insight from Active Insights – reveals the views and experiences across generations, identifying a critical opportunity to improve the nation’s health. 

The findings show that when asked if they are aware of the CMO guidelines, three-quarters (73 per cent) of adults admit to being unaware of the amount of strength exercises they should be doing each week. Awareness was lowest among Baby Boomers at just 9 per cent and the Silent Generation at just 7 per cent.  Even among those who claim they do know the guidelines, less than two fifths (38 per cent) of adults correctly said a minimum of two days of strength-building activities a week.  Other key findings:

• 11 per cent of UK adults only do half the minimum required strength-building activities, just once a week.
• Three-quarters (75 per cent) of those in Generation Z (aged 16 to 28) take part in strength training twice or more a week, with Millennials (aged 29 to 44) following closely behind (74 per cent).
• Over half (55 per cent) of those in Gen X (aged 45 to 60) are meeting or exceeding the CMO’s strength guidelines each week, and over a third (34 per cent) of Baby Boomers (aged 61 to 79).

While Gen Z leads the way in participation in strength-based activity among the general population, the research does reveal a growing awareness of its importance** among older adults who decide to join a gym.  Researchers found that among gym users, 82 per cent of Gen Z respondents say strength training was an important factor for joining the gym, but this grows to 86 per cent among Millennials, 84 per cent for Gen X, and reaches its highest level among Baby Boomers, with 90 per cent. 

The report recommends that the Government makes strength training a core part of the physical activity campaign that it committed to within the NHS 10 Year Plan, helping to prevent health issues, hospital admissions and workplace absence.  Falls alone cost the NHS more than £2.3bn a year and musculoskeletal (MSK) issues such as back pain and osteoporosis represent the third largest area of NHS spending, costing around £5bn a year. 

ukactive is calling on the Government to acknowledge the importance of strength training in the nation’s health and wellbeing and support fitness and leisure facilities to reach more people.  Other recommendations in the report include better promotion of strength training and Clinical Exercise Physiologists by the NHS; establishing national partnerships between the fitness sector and experts in the third sector such as Age UK and Women in Sport; and continuing to improve the support available within fitness and leisure facilities. 

January is commonly one of the busiest months for gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres, and year-round demand is also growing. The number of members of health and fitness club in the UK has reached a record 11.5 million people according to the UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025. 

Sport England’s Moving Communities report showed that participation in gym activities in 2024/2025 had increased by 13 per cent compared to the previous year – representing the second-largest increase in the number of visits by activity type.   In December, ukactive and Les Mills published a review of academic research on the impact of weight-loss medications on lean body mass, highlighting the health issues caused by the subsequent loss of muscle and strength.  

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: ““With a third of the population doing no strength exercises at all, it’s clear the UK is sleepwalking into another health crisis. This report makes a powerful case for the nation to rethink its relationship with physical strength so people can reap the benefits for their health. 

“The Government should seize this opportunity to help more people access strength training by promoting the work of our sector, which will reduce pressure on the NHS and improve the health of the workforce too. Strength training is one of the best tools we have to help people live healthier, happier, more independent lives.  

“Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres are supporting people of all ages to grow stronger and more confident in their health, but this report shows there are many more to reach.” 

Martin Franklin, CEO of Les Mills UK, said: “These new findings spotlight the opportunity for strength training to transform the health of the entire nation. There is room for improvement in every age group for achieving the CMO guidelines, so gyms and leisure centres are perfectly placed to help people of all ages build strength into their lifestyles. 

“Les Mills has been helping people become stronger since 1968, and we’ve learned that the best workout is the one you actually do. Making training motivating, inclusive, and most of all fun is the key to inspiring people to embrace healthy habits and reap the rewards of an active lifestyle. 

“It’s a magical transformation that we witness every day in gyms and leisure centres across the country, driven by dedicated fitness professionals determined to make a difference. Now’s the time to support them so we can scale this impact and make strength accessible for all.” 

You can read the report here. 

* The Chief Medical Officer recommends that adults should do activities to develop or maintain strength in the major muscle groups. These could include heavy gardening, carrying heavy shopping, or resistance exercise. Muscle strengthening activities should be done on at least two days a week, but any strengthening activity is better than none.  

**The question asked to respondents was: “How important or unimportant were the following factors in your decision to take out membership?”. Responses / percentages shown are the proportion of individuals who selected ‘To improve / maintain my physical strength and fitness’ as being quite important and/or very important. Segmentation of this answer provided breakdowns by generational age groups. This question was asked to 7,526 individuals across 11 quarterly waves from September 2022 to September 2025.  

Following the Chancellor’s announcement on the business rates support package for pubs and music venues on 27 January, UK Active CEO Huw Edwards has issued the following statement:

This announcement takes a narrow view of the support required by businesses, ignoring the immediate pressure facing fitness and leisure facilities across the UK.   

The Chancellor seems to have forgotten gyms, pools and leisure centres were also closed during the pandemic and without further protection operators have told us their business rates will rise by as much as 60 per cent. This will force many to increase prices for customers, heightening the risk of reduced services, redundancies, and in some cases the loss of gyms and pools from our communities entirely. 

In a time of growing health inequalities, these facilities have taken pressure off the NHS and helped to grow employment and high street renewal. 

Health and fitness clubs see 600 million visits a year, but the Chancellor’s decision completely undermines this industry success story. Instead, these essential community facilities face the impact of two regressive Budgets which have piled on operational costs and suffocated employment opportunities. 

We need an immediate package of support which is inclusive of fitness and leisure facilities or the Government will damage this sector and the health of the nation.

January traditionally sees a period of sober reflection following the Christmas and New Year holidays. Many people reflect on what difference they want to feel in their lives over the coming year, whether that be professional or personal. 

Our sector is a key part of this moment, with motivations to prioritise health and fitness for many leading to high demand in membership requests and visits to gyms, pools, and leisure centres at this time of the year.

These intentions show that people want to secure positive and sustainable changes to their physical, mental, and social wellbeing and it is these positive intentions that are hoped to last the full year and beyond.   Our sector’s facilities really help people to achieve their personal best and secure a positive difference in their lives.

Throughout the year, the ukactive team and I will visit members across the four nations of the United Kingdom where we will hear powerful testimonies from people who have made the choice to improve their health, supported by local community facilities they trust.

The driving motivation will be personal and unique, but they will find people in their local gym, pool and leisure centre on the same journey, wanting to make the improvements to their health that support their quality of life.

And what’s more, we have evidence that backs up these stories. The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025 showed a staggering 600 million visits to health and fitness clubs across the UK in the previous year.

This was followed by Sport England’s Moving Communities Facilities Impact Report in November that showed dramatic increases in those participating in gym and fitness activities, particularly among women, people under 16, over 65s, and people living in communities with the highest levels of deprivation.

There is no other part of the sport, recreation, and physical activity sector that supports communities on the size and scale that our industry does, and these facilities are providing essential services for all – reducing inequalities in the communities they serve. 

As people across the nation look to kickstart the year with a positive change, the Government is seeking to do the same.

According to the Sunday Times last month, the Government wants people to “begin to feel progress in 2026 not in theory, in speeches, but in their lives”. 

It also stated the Government wants 2026 to be the year “the country starts to feel the difference, in bills, in public services, in the places they call home… This is the year Britain turns a corner”. 

This ambition would be something we’d all welcome after many years of challenge and strife in almost all aspects of life.

That said, what would that Government difference feel like to the sport and physical activity sector, and the fitness and leisure services that form such a major part of it? 

To start with, many in the sector will indeed feel a difference in their bills, but this will be a negative one. The reality is the last two consecutive Budgets have hit businesses hard – from business rates to NICs – which mean operational pressures remain acute with both the facilities and consumers, facing rising costs, and ultimately losing out.  

And let’s not forget about health prevention and what can be done to leverage our sector to take more pressure off the NHS and help people get back into work. Here, the Government has one major problem: there is not a single political individual at the top of Government who has a strong enough grasp on the role sport and physical activity can play in the preventative agenda.

As a result, we see missed opportunities with broad generalisations on the role of sport and physical activity in strategies like the NHS 10 Year Plan and the Men’s Health Strategy, through to campaigns that are conceived in Whitehall and die in Whitehall as they lack all operational reality that our members face day in and day out.  

The good news is this is all rectifiable. It starts with the Government taking up the offer made by the CEOs of the biggest drivers of physical activity in the country to help them deliver their ideas on prevention. If they do this there is the opportunity to create credible campaigns on physical activity and movement, and credible plans for leveraging the sector to help a range of issues from mental health to musculoskeletal issues, falls prevention, and obesity.

You can also begin credible discussions on how to leverage tax and regulation to incentivise people to be more active.  

The Government has the opportunity in 2026 to embrace contemporary sector thinking on the role of sport and physical activity in the society it wants to create, understanding and supporting the levers that will secure further sector growth and development, and in doing so help economic growth and take pressure off the NHS.

If it does this, then 2026 could indeed be a year of delivery. 

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive