UK Active

By Jessica Capelli Beavan, EEDI Manager at UK Coaching UK Coaching is the UK’s independent body for coaches and the wider sport and physical activity workforce. We support organisations by developing the people who deliver activity, helping to create safer, more inclusive and higher-quality environments. We do this through learning and development, qualifications, workshops and practical support tailored to workforce needs.

ukactive has partnered with international health and fitness leaders to publish new health economic research, calling for deeper integration of physical activity and strength training in GLP-1 treatment. As GLP-1 medications transform obesity treatment worldwide, new multinational research finds that pairing GLP-1 therapy with regular structured exercise would improve long-term health outcomes, reduce downstream costs, and generate positive economic returns across multiple countries.

ukactive has today (11 June) announced the next phase of its Digital Futures programme, supporting organisations across the physical activity sector to develop their digital capability. Delivered by ukactive in partnership with Sport England, and supported by strategic partners Gladstone, EGYM, Xn Leisure and PerfectGym, Digital Futures has become the sector’s leading digital maturity initiative since its launch in 2021.

Politicians from all parties have been challenged to prove they are Fit for Office this month, in a competition that will really make them sweat. Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.

ukactive has issued the following statement in response to Alan Milburn’s Interim Report into Young People and Work. Cameron Saunders, CEO of ukactive, said: “This report into the rising levels of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) reveals the scale of the crisis, and the role of health-related inactivity in it. “It is particularly concerning to see the high levels of mental ill-health among young people and acting as a major barrier to education and employment.

ukactive has released new guidance for the provision of defibrillators within fitness and leisure facilities. A defibrillator is a device used to deliver a controlled electrical shock to the heart to get it beating in a normal rhythm when someone is in cardiac arrest, significantly increasing their chance of survival. Across the UK, gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres and other fitness and sport facilities are using defibrillators to save lives.

ukactive has issued a statement in response to today’s report from the Health and Social Care Committee following its inquiry into how physical activity can prevent ill health in older age. Clemency Lion, Director of Research, Policy and Communications at ukactive, said: “Today’s Healthy Ageing inquiry report highlights the central role of physical activity in healthy ageing and its importance in preventing illness and falls, as well as improving independence and mobility.

ukactive has published new guidance on defibrillators to help fitness and leisure operators deliver life-saving support for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest. The guidance has been developed with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and forms part of ukactive’s commitment to support gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres and other fitness facilities to further improve safety and standards.

By Dr Matthew Wade, Head of Research at ukactive It doesn’t feel like a year ago since I was writing one of these blogs, but what an incredible year it has been for the UK’s health and fitness sector. As presented in the UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2026, which we published this month, we’ve seen growth for the sector as a whole, record numbers of members, and provided a greater understanding of key drivers behind this growth.

ukactive has issued the following statement in response to the Active Lives Survey published by Sport England today (23 April) Cameron Saunders, CEO of ukactive, said: “It’s great to see fitness driving increases in levels of physical activity, but we’d all like to see overall increases moving far quicker, and far more being done to reduce inequalities. “Close to a million more people took part in fitness activities last year, a 1.4% increase on 2024.