The Gym Group says weight-loss jab trend is boosting gym demand

The Gym Group reported rising membership and revenue and said GLP-1 weight-loss injections are contributing to demand as people seek to maintain weight loss and muscle mass.

The Gym Group reports increased demand at its UK gyms and links part of that rise to the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss injections. Chief executive Will Orr told the Press Association the company is seeing GLP-1s as a tailwind and a contributory factor for business. He said strength training at the gym is important for people on these treatments because they can affect muscle density. The comments follow university research that reported a need for ongoing diet and exercise support to avoid weight regain and noted potential muscle loss among some users. Key facts: - The Gym Group operates 260 sites across the UK and records about 70 million visits a year. - Membership grew by 4% over the year, from 891,000 to 923,000. - Total revenue rose 8% to £244.9 million for the year ended December 31, with like-for-like revenue up 3% year-on-year. - The company announced plans to open around 75 new sites over the next three years, up from a previous target of 50, and expects 20 new sites to open in 2026. - The group met its 2025 target by opening 16 sites and said it will begin a £10 million share buyback programme funded by surplus cash, expected to complete by the end of 2026. - Analysts at Peel Hunt and Jefferies are reported as citing GLP-1 medications and younger consumers' interest in fitness as contributors to continued demand. Summary: The Gym Group says a mix of factors, including the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss treatments and ongoing interest in fitness among younger people, is supporting membership and revenue growth. The firm plans to accelerate its expansion to about 75 new sites over three years and will report full-year results on March 11. Undetermined at this time.