Italian Gyms See Surge of Under-25 Members as Social Media Drives Youth Fitness Obsession
In Italy, there has been a notable increase in gym participation among adolescents and those under 25, largely fueled by a desire for social interaction and improved muscle tone. Fitness centers are bustling with young individuals engaging in workouts and mingling. Although comprehensive statistics for Italy are lacking, gym staff have observed this upward trend. At McFit, half of the clientele is under 25, while FitActive experienced a 40% rise in members from this age group in Milan over three years. Gyms typically accept youths starting at age 15, often as part of birthday celebrations. The number of gyms expanded from 5,100 in 2019 to 5,900 by 2026. Social media influences beauty ideals, contributing to body image concerns and conditions like muscle dysmorphia among young males.
Fatti principali
- 50 percent of McFit members in Italy are under 25
- FitActive saw a 40 percent increase in under-25 members at its Milan locations over three years
- Italian gyms grew from about 5,100 in 2019 to about 5,900 in 2026, per Unioncamere
- PureGym in the UK reported 47 percent of new members are 25 or younger this year
- Synergym has 160 locations across Spain
- Sara Iannattone is a clinical psychology researcher at the University of Padua and author of Italian adolescents' body image and sociocultural influences
- Gyms generally admit youths from age 15, with parental accompaniment required for minors to register
- Muscle dysmorphia, or bigorexia, can lead to compulsive training, rigid high-protein diets and, in extreme cases, supplements or anabolic substances
Entità
Artisti
- Luca Torresan
- Alessandro Regalia
- Jordi Bella
- Leopoldo Romanelli
- Sara Iannattone
Istituzioni
- Il Post
- McFit
- FitActive
- RSG Group
- Unioncamere
- PureGym
- Synergym
- El País
- University of Padua
- TikTok
Luoghi
- Italy
- Milan
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- United States
- Padua