In a world of endless social media scrolling and thousands of hours of content uploaded online every hour, Generation Z has found a singular place that welcomes us all: the gym.
Over the last few years, the rise in gym culture among Gen Z has been hard to ignore. From major brands like GymShark and YoungLA to influencers like Sam Sulek and Alex Eubank, every aspect of the fitness industry is gaining more attention as gym attendance continues to rise.
A study from ABC Fitness in early 2024 showed that gym use has nearly doubled since pre-pandemic numbers, with Gen Z helping drive that trend.
“Personal training continues to increase, with 38% of Gen Z and 29% of the total population opting to use a trainer or coach. ABC Trainerize saw a 78% increase in new clients year-over-year, further demonstrating the demand” the study showed.
While overall interactions with fitness content online continue to rise, many wonder what the driving force for this may be.
Through the summer of 2024, one segment of the chalkboard wall of the Club4Fitness in Starkville simply read:
“Text if interested in bible study!”
Attached was a phone number, and aside from this was a chalkboard filled with insights about those who are members of said Club4.
“Curse you, Bayle!” One segment of the wall read, a reference to Igon, a character from “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.”
Another segment had a drawing of Saitama, the pivotal character of the popular anime “One Punch Man.”
These writings and quirks have added to the gym community as well. As an article by Jordan Bradley from FortuneWell takes note, the gym has become a ‘third location’ for many.
“Not only is working out and going to the gym part of many people’s routines, it can help people seek out community,” Bradley said.
In a world that constantly provides evidence of one’s own inadequacies online, the gym can be one of the only secular places that encourages people to simply “come as you are.”
Gen Z is taking that to heart, with no signs of slowing down. Gym content online is only getting more popular, with merchandise companies growing at extreme rates. GymShark and YoungLA, for example, each started less than 15 years ago and have grown to be some of the biggest names in the industry.
The rise in gym culture among Gen Z can show a major cultural shift. From the rise in anime to the return of “dad rock,” gym-goers continuously find themselves both online and in-person relating and bonding over cultural trends, looking to any form of media for inspiration.
A quick scroll of TikTok would not be far off from the norm to find edits of all sorts promoting gym culture. Everything from “I’ll Make a Man out of You” from “Mulan” being overlayed with videos of superheroes, anime characters and gym-goers to the same with “United in Grief” by Kendrick Lamar, boss fights from video games and more are all commonly seen.
Gen Z is using every outlet to push themselves past the limits of their own self-betterment. From day one to day 1000, the promotion and participation in gym culture is only getting more popular.
