A new report by PureGym investigates the relationship between professional roles and fitness routines in the UK.
- Over half of the working population feel their job hinders their ability to exercise regularly.
- Professions experiencing the greatest impact include hair & beauty, HR, and the arts, while healthcare and manufacturing fare better.
- Sedentary professions such as accountancy and IT show higher exercise rates outside work hours.
- Workers in retail and transportation often forgo exercise, citing adequate physical activity at work.
A comprehensive study by PureGym delves into how various professions affect an individual’s capacity to maintain fitness routines. This report utilises a mix of data sources including internal customer data, independent surveys, and YouGov statistics to provide a nuanced view of professional impacts on physical health. More than half of the UK workforce believes their occupation hinders their exercise ability, primarily due to fatigue and time constraints resulting from work commitments. Notably, 41% report tiredness post-work as a barrier, while 34% struggle with time management to fit in exercise.
Certain professions find it particularly challenging to incorporate fitness into their routine. The hair and beauty sector, characterised by prolonged hours on foot, sees a staggering 90% of its workforce feeling restricted from exercising due to their professional demands. Similarly, those in human resources and the arts report significant interference from work in maintaining fitness, with 80% and 69% affected, respectively. In contrast, sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and travel report lower figures, around 50%, indicating a slightly better balance between work and exercise.
Interestingly, the report highlights that some sedentary jobs manage better fitness habits. Over 50% of professionals in roles such as accounting, IT, and marketing deliberately allocate time for exercise, recognizing the necessity to counterbalance long hours at a desk. For individuals like Steve, a Head of PR from Brighton, maintaining this balance is crucial. According to him, ensuring time for exercise is vital to combat desk-induced strain, enhancing energy levels and engagement at work.
Conversely, fields involving considerable physical activity during work hours often see decreased exercise routines outside of work. Nearly half of retail workers refrain from additional workouts, attributing it to the physical demands of their jobs. A similar trend is observed among transportation and manufacturing employees, with figures standing at 44% and 42% respectively. PureGym’s trainers suggest incorporating moderate cardio and stretching exercises to maintain general health and prevent work-related strains, which underscores the importance of a balanced approach to personal well-being.
The professions identified in the report that engage the least in additional physical exercise primarily include retail, transportation, and hospitality sectors. A significant portion of workers in these industries finds the daily occupational physicality sufficient, leading to a lower inclination towards extracurricular fitness activities. This aligns with feedback from 47% of retail workers who believe their job alone meets their exercise requirements.
The PureGym report underscores the intricate link between professional commitments and exercise habits, revealing disparities across sectors.
