The UK fitness industry has continued to grow in size and value, with the number of gyms hitting 7,000 for the first time in history.

The 2018 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report – published today by the Leisure Database Company (LeisureDB) – estimates the fitness market's value at £5bn, an increase of 2.9 per cent.

According to the report, market penetration rate is currently at 14.9 per cent, with one in every seven Brits – a total of 10 million people – now having a gym membership.

The 2018 report also shows that the industry is still growing.

During the 12 months to March 2018, the number of fitness facilities increased by 4.6 per cent – with 275 new openings – while total membership grew by 2 per cent.

The rates of growth are, however, lower than recorded during the previous 12 months (from March 2016 to March 2017), when the sector saw increases of more than 5 per cent in both members and market value.

When it comes to operators, budget chain Pure Gym and charitable enterprise GLL have strengthened their positions as the UK’s leading private and public operators – when measured by number of gyms and members.

Pure Gym have become the first operator to reach 200 clubs and passed the 1 million member mark earlier this year, while GLL, with 194 gyms, is also likely to break the 200 milestone in the next year.

Commenting on the figures, David Minton, director of LeisureDB said: “After being widely quoted from last year’s report about ‘the golden age of fitness’, I’m sticking to my prediction that the period up to 2020 remains the time for fitness to continue to break all barriers.

"It has for the past six years, after all; and as the consumer gets more personalisation, localisation, seamless booking and payment options, taking part will become easier. The next challenge will be broader consumer adoption. Could we aim for 20 per cent penetration in the UK by 2020?”

For more information on The State of the UK Fitness Industry Report and to download the full report, click here.