The boss of The Gym Group has said weight-loss drugs are boosting demand across its fitness chains as people look to keep the weight off from jabs and maintain muscle mass.
Will Orr, chief executive of the low-cost gym firm, told the Press Association the company was “absolutely” seeing the impact of GLP-1s as a “tailwind and contributory factor” for the business, viewing their rise as an opportunity “to help people sustain the results that might come from GLP-1s”.
Last week, a study by the University of Oxford suggested people on fat-loss jabs needed ongoing support through diet and exercise to stop regaining the weight, while separate research from University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge found people taking jabs may be vulnerable to muscle loss.
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Mr Orr said building strength at the gym was important for people on these jabs, as “GLP-1s can reduce muscle density”.
Analysts at Peel Hunt cited GLP-1 medications, along with Gen Z viewing fitness as “mandatory”, as being key contributors to continued demand for the group’s gyms, as it said the company “should be a core leisure holding with plenty of growth to look forward to”.
But Mr Orr said he thought there was a wider health trend that was there before GLP-1s, calling health, fitness and wellness “juggernaut trends that are not going anywhere”.
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The comment came as The Gym Group announced plans to open 75 new sites over the next three years, 25 more than previously stated, after reporting strong revenue growth and rising membership numbers.
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The firm reported strong top-line growth in a pre-close trading update on Tuesday, with like-for-like revenue up three per cent year-on-year, while total revenue rose eight per cent to £244.9 million for the year ended December 31.
Owing to its strong trading performance, the firm now says it expects to open 75 new sites over the next three years, up from 50, with 20 new sites set to open in 2026.
Mr Orr said the company sees “significant opportunities ahead in a market with structural growth tailwinds”, and will therefore accelerate its “organically funded rollout to around 75 new sites over the next three years”.
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Gym membership also grew by four per cent over the year, up from 891,000 to 923,000.
The company has previously pointed to strong demand from health-conscious Gen Z helping to boost membership numbers, with around 40 per cent of members now coming from the younger generation, highlighting interest in the group’s value-focused offer.
The Gym Group currently operates 260 sites across the UK, with around 70 million visits a year.
