Construction workers and those in law enforcement and security like to spend over 15 hours a week in the gym in order to stay in shape and meet the demands of their job, whether that’s to keep up with the demands of their job or even to appear intimidating.

The top five industries that favour the gym have been revealed in a new study, with those in construction most likely to be found in the gym and also the ones most likely to spend the longest amount of time there each week.

The team behind www.wmblogistics.co.uk conducted the research as part of an ongoing study into the lives of British lorry drivers and how theirs differs from those in other industries. More than 3,000 UK-based adults (aged 18+) in full-time employment were quizzed, including 250 lorry drivers and a spread from a variety of other industries.

Initially all those taking part in the study were asked if they regularly attended the gym outside of work hours, with the industries that favour the gym most found to be:

1. Construction – 71% (of those in this industry regularly go to the gym)
2. Sales – 65%
3. Tradesmen – 50%
4. Education – 43%
5. Retail – 41%

Just one in seven (13%) of those working in the transport and logistics industry stated that they have time to go to the gym regularly.

Following on from this, when asked how long they estimate that they spend in the gym per week, those who spend the longest there were revealed to be:

1. Construction – 15 hours 30 minutes (spent in the gym each week, on average)
2. Law enforcement & security – 15 hours
3. Telecoms – 12 hours 45 minutes
4. Sales – 12 hours 15 minutes
5. Healthcare – 9 hours

Weight lifting was the favourite gym workout for those who work in construction (83%), retail (76%) and law enforcement & security (69%), whilst cardio was the favourite amongst those in education (59%), healthcare (57%) and telecoms (44%).

Those in construction stated that they go to the gym so much in order to be able to keep up with the physical demands of their job (57%), while those in law enforcement stated they spend that much time in the gym in order to appear intimidating (42%).

A spokesperson for www.wmblogistics.co.uk made the following comment:

“Everyone goes to the gym for their own reasons, whether that’s to help with their day-to-day job, combat the effects that a sedentary job can have, or just to get fit and look after their health and wellbeing. Whatever the reason, everyone should be aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, which we hope those in construction and transport & logistics are still getting alongside all the weight lifting they’re quite clearly doing.”