A tool validated to measure the social impact of low-cost gyms in Spain

Over the past decade, the fitness industry has experienced significant growth in Spain, and it is now one of the most important markets in Europe in this sector, with more than 4,700 centres and nearly 5.7 million users.

“This growth, according to various experts, is due, among other reasons, to the expansion of low-cost fitness centres. These centres, characterised by membership fees significantly lower than the market average and by offering no-commitment contracts, have become established in the Spanish fitness market with the aim of making physical activity more accessible”, explains David Parra Camacho, lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (FCAFE) and lead author of the article.

Jerónimo García, researcher at the University of Seville, notes that among the conclusions of the article, the impact on health was the highest-rated dimension. In addition, users perceive these centres as generating a positive social impact in terms of creating regular physical activity habits. The study also shows that women rate the social impact of these centres more positively than men, especially regarding the health dimension.

“Year after year, specialist reports show that the number of members of these chains continues to grow. Taking into account that the availability of sports facilities is directly related to the levels of physical activity, as well as to the many health and wellbeing benefits of regular physical activity, we came up with the idea for this study”, highlights Fernando García, researcher at FCAFE. “Moreover, based on the available scientific evidence, we hypothesised that these facilities would also have an impact on other areas of interest, such as the socio-economic impact or the creation of a sense of community”, García adds.

As Pablo Jiménez Jiménez, researcher at FCAFE, explains: “The validated tool, made up of 26 items grouped into 6 dimensions (health impact, social cohesion, sporting habits, socio-cultural impact, economic impact and impact on the image of the environment) is a useful tool for sports managers, as well as civil servants and public administration staff, as it allows for the evaluation and quantification of the social impact of these centres — something which may be of interest to support the demands of the sector such as the implementation of tax incentives”. According to the researcher, “this objective evidence may be crucial when negotiating with public authorities and justifying measures that recognise the social value of sport and physical activity”.

Article reference:Parra-Camacho, D., Jiménez-Jiménez, P., García-Pascual, F., & García-Fernández, J. (2025). Social Impact of Low-Cost Fitness Centers in Spain: Scale Validation and Analysis from the Users’ Perception.Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2025.2508167