National Fitness Day in the UK Date in the current year: September 18, 2024

The term “physical fitness”, typically shortened to just fitness, describes the overall state of being healthy and fit enough to handle daily tasks easily, while also having extra energy to enjoy your leisure time. The concept of fitness became popular in the latter half of the 20th century as people became more aware of the vital role physical activity plays in supporting our physical, mental, and emotional health.

Fitness is achieved through a combination of regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest. Health experts suggest at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days to reduce health risks and stay in good shape. This doesn’t mean you have to stick to gym workouts or long runs. Activities like walking or biking to work, taking your dog for a long walk, climbing stairs, gardening, and other ways to stay active in your daily routine also count as physical activity and help you to stay fit.

People pursue fitness for different reasons, but it’s important to remember that fitness isn’t just about one goal, like reaching and maintaining a certain weight or breaking personal records. It’s about feeling good, celebrating what your body can do, and growing stronger step by step. Living a healthy lifestyle shouldn’t feel like a burden—it can be a source of joy, inspiration, and pride. That’s the spirit of National Fitness Day: finding happiness and empowerment in staying healthy and fit.

The UK’s National Fitness Day was inaugurated in 2011 to highlight the role of physical activity in helping people to lead healthier lifestyles. It is organized by ukactive, a London-based not-for-profit association that promotes the interests of more than 3,500 commercial fitness gyms and community leisure centers across the United Kingdom. By organizing National Fitness Day and its other campaigns, ukactive hopes to improve the health of the nation.

National Fitness Day is a series of mass participation events held across the country such as free classes, fun runs and mass walks, workout sessions, dance-offs, and more. They are hosted by gyms, leisure centers, swimming pools, studios, workplaces, schools, etc. There is a list of activities on National Fitness Day’s official website so that everyone can choose the best activity for their age and level of ability.

Every year, millions of people in the UK participate in National Fitness Day, reaping the physical, mental, and social benefits of physical activity. The celebration helps them to feel more positive about exercise and motivates them to put their health and fitness first. National Fitness Day aims to make exercise accessible to everyone and encourage those who might feel intimidated by working out.

The United Kingdom isn’t the only country that has a National Fitness Day. For example, the United States celebrates its National Fitness Day on the first Saturday of May, and Canada’s National Health and Fitness Day is observed on the first Saturday of June.