According to data from Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, 45% of women in the UK are concerned about showing their bodies when getting active during the summer.
The data doesn’t just highlight body issues being a dissuading factor when it comes to women’s summer exercise habits: 48% reported that they considered themselves too unfit and 40% that they didn’t feel good enough.
Further stats included 33% of women being worried about sweat as well as hormonal concerns such as menopause (27%) and periods (25%).
Although these results paint a troubling picture, this research is vital for This Girl Can when it comes to identifying and eliminating as many of the practical and emotional barriers as possible that stand in the way of women getting active.
While almost half of the women had body image concerns, over 60% indicated that wearing their favourite kit was a motivating factor that made exercising more enjoyable. A good pair of leggings, a new running t-shirt or a favourite pair of running shoes could encourage more active habits this summer.
“This is our reminder to women – of all shapes, sizes, ability and age – that nothing should hold us back from enjoying getting active this summer,” says Kate Dale, Director of Marketing at Sport England.
As a result…
