Our research: how can we increase women’s use and enjoyment of outdoor gyms?

9th October 2024

But research from Sport England’s ‘This Girl Can’ campaign has shone a light on the ‘Enjoyment Gap’ that women experience, with a significant number of females reporting safety concerns. Sport England’s November 2022 survey, for example, found that 65% of women felt unsafe exercising even in well-lit streets or public spaces alone after dark, while more than half (53%) felt unsafe working out at unsupervised public facilities. 

At the same time, the Active Lives survey from Sport England found that, overall, women exercised less than men. In 2022, their activity levels grew by a single percentage point; for men that figure was more than double at 2.5 percentage points. 

Research from Fresh Air Fitness

At leading outdoor gym equipment supplier Fresh Air Fitness, we’ve carried out our own research into women and outdoor exercise and know that they, and teenage girls, are disproportionately less likely to use outside gyms than other groups. We also believe females have been consistently excluded from public policy, research and planning processes.

So we know that more research is necessary to make outdoor gyms inclusive and safe so that everyone benefits and feels able to use them. 

To that end, our whitepaper shows how teenage girls and women access and use outdoor gyms across the UK, and highlighted the barriers faced in doing so. It used current literature on female participation in exercise, and is also based on our survey Women and Gym: Experiences and Aspirations, conducted online with women aged from 25 to 45+. (In all, 159 respondents took part.) 

What we discovered

Our research, as reported in our whitepaper Women, Outdoor Gyms and Spatial Equality in the UK, has revealed that: 

• Women are more likely to use exercise amenities near their homes and close to other park facilities. (For 59% and 58% of respondents respectively, closeness to home and the ability to exercise outside are the strongest motivators for using outside gym facilities.) 
• Women prefer secluded exercise areas and typically feel safer working out in greater privacy. For those for whom body image is a particular concern, outdoor gyms’ openness can make some women feel they are being watched or judged. 
• As living costs continue to rise, the fact that outdoor gyms are free to use is a key motivator. More than a third (35%) report having cancelled gym memberships due to the high fees. It’s therefore important to promote outdoor gyms as no-charge exercise facilities. 
• Having access to group fitness sessions or professional trainers encourages female engagement with outdoor gyms. 
• Security was another key concern. Some women may not feel safe exercising in public spaces, so avoid park-air gyms, especially those which are poorly lit, or in areas which are not well maintained. 
• Factors affecting how comfortable women felt included access to exclusively female areas or classes, being able to work out in daylight and convenient parking. But even these were less important, when it came to comfort, than the presence of a personal trainer or instructor and being able to work out with a companion.
• In addition to location, they type of equipment installed was a key factor in women’s enjoyment and therefore, greater use of outdoor gyms. Cross Trainers, Leg Press and a Chest Press were among the most popular.

So Fresh Air Fitness believes that outdoor gyms need to be strategically located to address women’s particular needs and designed to overcome the various barriers to take-up. And by addressing the key issues of privacy, security, accessibility and social support, outdoor gyms can become more inclusive environments for women and girls. 

Download a full copy of our whitepaper to read more. Discover more about our award winning gym equipment for councils, residential settings, schools, parks and other locations.  Or get in touch to find out more about installing an outdoor gym for your organisation.