The exercise and fitness market has grown in popularity, especially during COVID-19. Consumers were only allowed outside for one hour a day during the lockdowns, and consumers made the most of this time to exercise, whether it was going for a walk, or even picking up a new exercise activity such as running.

COVID-19 has sparked a range of different trends amongst Irish consumers, particularly those with a focus on health. The pandemic has made consumers realise how important their health is and has encouraged them to make lifestyle changes in order to protect them, including exercising. Consumers have realised the benefit exercise has not only on their physical health, but also on their mental health; during COVID-19 consumers’ anxiety/stress levels were higher due to the several lockdowns and fear of contracting the virus, therefore consumers turned to exercise as a method to cope.

The impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviour in exercise and fitness.

The continued growth of the fitness and exercise market.

COVID-19 exercise and fitness trends.

Spotlight on health that impacts exercise and fitness.

Increase in prices affects fitness and exercise market.

This update of the impact that COVID-19 is having on the market was prepared on 29 May 2022.

In RoI, the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in February, though numbers were small, with the first death related to COVID-19 not recorded until 13 March 2020. One day prior, on 12 March, RoI was put into lockdown.

The first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the UK at the end of January, with a small number of cases in February. As the case level rose, the UK government ordered the closure of non-essential stores on 20 March, which was adopted in NI and the region went into lockdown.

Lockdown eased in July 2020, but both NI and RoI were placed under tighter restrictions as a second wave emerged. In October 2020, NI was placed in a four-week lockdown with foodservice closures (excluding takeaway), and a continuation of these measures occurred in November. In RoI, a lockdown was introduced in October 2020 and lasted until the end of November 2020 (six weeks), with foodservice and non-essential retail closed.

In December 2020, both NI and RoI were placed into another restrictive lockdown (including curfews, inter-county travel restrictions and non-essential retail and foodservice closures excluding takeaway) which continued until February 2021. In April 2021, restrictions were eased, with foodservice opening again in May 2021, and by June 2021, the government began the easing of restrictions.

RoI began easing restrictions in January 2022, with the reopening of nightclubs and the ending of curfews and social distancing. In February 2022, NI announced the end of restrictions such as wearing a face mask and COVID-19 passports; however, they are still encouraged.