66% of women in the Kingdom overweight; only 33% of women practise sports

86% of women in Riyadh express frustration at exaggerated membership fees of existing fitness clubs

Riyadh, January 15, 2013: A study on women's fitness in Saudi Arabia recently conducted exclusively for NuYu women's fitness club showed that the percentage of women that engage in sports is extremely low. Although the majority of women believed that that being active is an important element of our daily lives, nearly 65% of respondents indicated that they never played or practice any sport currently. The alarming obesity rates in the Kingdom and the associated illnesses are driving more and more people to try and get healthier.

A combination of balanced eating and physical activity practised consistently over a period of time is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Extreme climate conditions in the Kingdom and a lack of sidewalk infrastructure imposes a need for a new generation of women's fitness clubs. More than 66% of women in the Kingdom are believed to be overweight or obese but limited fitness club options exist. Respondents cited social and financial reasons as the key factors in their decision making to join a sport clubs. Moreover, 35% of the women in the study said their main motives for joining clubs is to burn fat and lose weight.

Covering 538 women between the ages of 15 and 60 in the city of Riyadh, the study showed that the affordability-- woman's inability to pay membership fees -- is a key consideration. 86% of the respondents expressed dismay at exaggerated membership fees, which often exceed 1000 riyals per month. The study also revealed that the women sports sector is still in its infancy in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh having only 22 clubs located primarily at the center of the city - Al Ulayya and Al Sulmaniya districts.

Her Royal Highness Princess Sara Bint Mohammed Al Saud, Managing director of NuYu fitness club for women, said: "Every human has the right and responsibility to be fit, active and healthy.  It is up to the fitness community, however, to offer individuals with the necessary support, guidance and expertise to facilitate an active lifestyle.  We've launched NuYu with the aim of making fitness and activity accessible for all women by offering internationally-recognized training and facilities, at affordable prices."

"Our research has clearly shown that there are an insufficient number of clubs to meet the demands of the Riyadh population. As a result, a large segment of society does not have access to these facilities and worse, are not incorporating physical activity into their daily routines. Furthermore, the existing clubs are not recognized as specialized, fully independent gym facilities and often lack the necessary licensing and supervision," she continued.

Women fitness clubs face many challenges, most notably in raising public awareness of the importance of physical activity in society and with women in particular, the gatekeepers of their family's health. The study highlighted that while 33% of women practice sports, only 20% do so through memberships at sport clubs.

A large number of women engaged for the survey explained that they join clubs not to just engage in physical activity but because clubs are more of destination where women can socialize. The data indicated that some women spend more than 3 hours at clubs after finishing their workouts.

"These facts demonstrate that as a population we have not found an effective approach to physical fitness. Our guiding philosophy at NuYu is to encourage women to get active, and stay active. Fitness is a journey and not a destination--it is a lifelong commitment to being healthy. Women currently joining clubs stay as members for short, interrupted periods of time and often do not benefit from the programs offered. A staggering 49% of respondents said they opt for monthly subscriptions only," Princess Sara concluded.

Moreover, existing clubs are not taking on the appropriate advisory role to assist women identify legitimate fitness goals and track progress and results.  NuYu's trainers work closely with all new members and has instituted an advanced workout tracking system designed to help identify appropriate programs for members.  The system identifies classes each member is taking, how much time they are spending at the gym, the frequency of visits and more--- all with the purpose of creating a tailor-made, effective fitness program that fits the distinct needs of each female member.

The study also confirmed that the level of cleanliness, spaciousness, training equipment, expertise of trainers, and subscription fees are the core factors women use to rating sport clubs. The quality of the services they can expect to receive may be critical to women joining fitness clubs but social traditions, familial obligations and transportation issues are significant hurdles discouraging women from joining sport clubs.

About NuYu
NuYu is the newest generation of fitness facilities for women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is accessible affordable and contemporary in design. Women can now affordably benefit from access to the latest training equipment, group exercise activities, expert fitness and nutrition advice provided by international trainers in a reputable, safe and supportive social environment. NuYu aims to contribute to a more active, healthier and happier female population who, individually, can enjoy improved levels of fitness and wellbeing and whom, collectively, can make an appropriately positive contribution to the health of the nation.

http://www.nuyu-ksa.com/

For more information please contact:
Yasmin Adem
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
E-mail: Yasmin.adem@hkstrategies.com
Mobile: +966507704499

© Press Release 2013