75% of women want to exercise but don’t for fear of what others think


  • Sport England study found 75% of women would like to exercise more
  • Women said they fear being judged over appearance, ability and concerns from mothers that people will think they are putting themselves first 
  • Two million fewer women than men take regular exercise in the UK 
  • New Sport England campaign This Girl Can will launch in the new year
  • Aims to encourage women to join gyms, sports clubs and exercise at home

Lizzie Parry for MailOnline

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Women are failing to exercise for fear of being judged over their appearance and ability at the gym, a new study has found.

Across the UK two million fewer women than men take part in sport and regularly exercise.

And a new piece of research conducted by Sport England has identified three core factors holding them back.

They found concerns over appearance, ability and whether they will, as mothers, be judged for putting themselves first, deter women from living healthier lifestyles.

The study has prompted a new campaign to empower women, encouraging more to get active and improve their health. 

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A new study by Sport England found 75 per cent of women would like to exercise but don’t because they fear they will be judged 

Of the 9.4million women aged 14 to 40 that Sport England are targeted as part of the This Girl Can campaign, 7.1million – 75 per cent – would like to exercise more. 

Set to launch in January, the campaign will encourage women to join local sports clubs, gyms, and exercise at home.

The study found the fear of judgement is greater than women’s self-confidence. 

Jennie Price, chief executive of Sport England, said: ‘Women do less sport and exercise than men, but most say they would like to do more.

‘So we had to get to the bottom of what’s holding them back.

‘We found out by talking to women of all ages up and down the country that what’s stopping them is fear, fear of judgement: whether that’s about how they look, whether they’re any good at it, or feeling guilty about spending time on themselves.

‘Whichever way you slice it, women’s fear of judgement is sapping their confidence.

‘This Girl Can is a celebration of all the women who are finding the confidence to exercise: it’s an attitude, and a call to action for all women to do the same.’ 

While identifying a host of reasons holding women back from exercising, the unifying factor was a fear of being judged.

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