Fitness for friendship as Belfast celebrates National Fitness Day

Belfast is today celebrating National Fitness Day with a host of free activities as new research shows that more than half of Gen Z and Millennials and one in three of Gen X and Baby Boomers join the gym to make friends. New insights into the UK’s gym motivations reveal the importance of building confidence, managing health conditions, and improving mental health.

Undertaken to mark National Fitness Day (16 September 2026), the research challenges the notion that only younger generations are turning to gyms and leisure centres as social spaces, with connection through physical activity crossing the age divide. GLL, the charitable social enterprise which operates Belfast’s leisure centres under its Better brand, will mark National Fitness Day in Belfast with a series of events across various leisure centres throughout the city, including a children’s sports day for north Belfast schools in Girdwood Community Hub and a blended group exercise class in Avoniel, both of which are expected to attract over 100 participants.

The survey of 6,395 UK adults, conducted with Savanta, found that more than one in three of Gen X (37%) and Baby Boomers (35%) said making new friends was an important factor for joining the gym, rising to over half of Gen Z (51%) and Millennials (53%). The research also shows that gym users are not just the cliched ‘Gym Bros’ – 47% of women said it was important. With over a quarter of people in the UK feeling lonely at least occasionally, the new findings underline the growing role of fitness and leisure facilities as hubs for friendship and community in addition to traditional benefits such as physical health.

The ‘September reset’ has become recognised as a time of year to revisit personal goals following summer holidays and the new survey sheds light on our evolving motivations for staying active. Across all age groups, three-quarters (74%) said improving their overall confidence was an important factor for joining the gym, and by generation was important for 76% of Gen Z, 81% of Millennials, 72% of Gen X, and 59% of Baby Boomers.

Around half of Baby Boomers (52%) and Gen X (54%) said managing a health condition was an important factor, rising to 60% of Gen Z and 64% of Millennials. Improving mental health and wellbeing was another major motivation, quoted by 84% of Millennials, 76% of Gen X, 75% of Gen Z and 59% of Baby Boomers.

Traditional motivations remain important across most of generations, with strength and fitness rated as important by 83% overall and improving physical appearance by 78% overall. However, only 58% of Baby Boomers said they were motivated by improving their appearance, compared to most people from other generations – 75% of Gen Z, 85% of Millennials, and 79% of Gen X.

The findings help explain the growth of the UK’s fitness community, with a record 12.2 million people now members of a health and fitness club – a figure larger than the combined populations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The results also show the importance of friends and family in supporting people to get active. A third (31%) of people who said they are not confident enough to join a gym said it is because they do not have anyone to go with.

Better leisure centres in Belfast are offering inclusive activities and events to help put people at ease and make new friends. National Fitness Day is about encouraging people to try a new activity, making it the perfect time to invite a friend or to meet new people also trying something new.