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Working out in the gym
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An estimated 75,000 people aged over 50 claim they have found love in their local gym, a survey showed today.
People in this age group are as likely to find a date while working out as younger people, according to Saga.
But despite the social opportunities, 93% of over 50s claim their main reason for working out is to keep fit, with 32% exercising for more than four hours a week, compared with 12% of the under 50s.
One in five over 50s regularly visit a health club or gym, although many others claimed they were put off joining one by financial considerations.
Around 44% of people said they found gyms too expensive to join, while four out of 10 said they did not want to have to commit to a 12-month membership and a third claimed to have been put off by having to pay a joining fee.
Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, said: "We have discovered there is a great demand amongst over 50s to enjoy the benefits of health club memberships, not least for the possibility to socialise and meet new people."
Copyright Press Association 2006
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