Noun: The discomfort or unease people feel when gym environments are unwelcoming, judgmental, or unsafe.
The gym is more than a place to work out, it's a space where people go to build strength, confidence, and community. But for many Americans, that's not always the reality. According to our latest data, over half (51%) of gym-goers in the U.S. have felt intimidated or judged while working out, with more than one in three (34%) revealing that it's happened on more than one occasion.
To better understand the truth behind people's experiences in the gym, we conducted a survey of 1,000 Americans who either currently visit the gym or have been in the past few years.
The goal? To uncover the common but often overlooked barriers to fitness, raising awareness of what keeps people from showing up, and helping create gym spaces where everyone feels comfortable, supported, and included.
Our findings revealed that 83% of Americans visit the gym at least once a week, rising to 88% among Gen Zers and Millennials. Yet, despite this high attendance, many don't feel entirely at ease once they're there. One in seven gym-goers (14%) reported feeling uncomfortable while exercising, with women (18%) twice as likely as men (9%) to feel this way in gym environments.
While men and women report feelings of intimidation equally, the feeling is especially pronounced among Gen Z, where two-thirds (66%) have felt intimidated and over a third (36%) reveal it happening repeatedly.
Meet the expert
Dr. Cassidy Jenkins is a dedicated psychologist, writer, and educator with a passion for making mental health accessible and relatable. Holding a PhD in Clinical Psychology, she has spent years helping individuals navigate their mental health journeys through therapy, research, and education, with a focus on building confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being.
Dr. Jenkins explains: "From what I see clinically, gym anxiety often stems from a combination of social pressure, unfamiliarity, and past negative experiences. Many people experience what's known as the 'spotlight effect', the belief that everyone is noticing and judging them far more than they actually are. This feeling can be especially strong for beginners who haven't yet built confidence with equipment or routines, where every misstep can feel like proof they don't belong.
"The gym's culture also plays a major role. When the environment emphasizes aesthetics, personal records, or an 'elite' attitude, it can make beginners, people with larger bodies, older adults, or those with disabilities feel like they're on the outside looking in."
This growing issue, what we're calling Gymtimidation, is reshaping how we think about inclusivity and accessibility in fitness. Our research reveals what's really happening inside America's gyms, why these feelings persist, and what it takes to build spaces that make everyone feel they belong.
To understand how widespread Gymtimidation is, we analyzed 63,031 online reviews from nine major US gym chains, focusing on the 5,921 reviews rated 1–2 stars, to uncover what people's experiences are really like. Within these, we identified 6,698 mentions of terms linked to Gymtimidation, revealing how visitors describe feeling intimidated or unsafe in fitness spaces.
These terms reveal the behaviors, environments, and emotions that fuel Gymtimidation, showing that these experiences aren't isolated but instead common challenges that people face purely from wanting to exercise.
We were also able to uncover the terms that were exclusively used by women as well as men to highlight how experiences in the gym vary for both genders.
Women listed feeling disrespected and shamed as well as describing their environment as sketchy, overcrowded and awkward, whereas men felt discriminated against, panicked, as well as unwelcomed.
Gymtimidation doesn't stem from a single cause, instead, it emerges from a combination of gym culture, the physical environment, and individual confidence, demonstrating how both the space itself and personal experiences shape feelings of intimidation, judgement, and anxiety.
The top factors contributing to gym intimidation were reported as:
These findings echo what experts call "anticipatory anxiety", the dread that builds before even setting foot inside a gym:
Meet the expert
David J. Sautter is a NASM-certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist. Besides practical experience as a personal trainer, David is also a fitness writer with experience in the fitness and nutrition industry, as well as a vast understanding of exercise science, nutritional research, and sports nutrition supplements.
Sautter explains: "I think a lot of gym anxiety comes down to fear of judgment. People walk in feeling like everyone is watching, critiquing their form, or comparing their bodies. For beginners, unfamiliarity with equipment can be a major hurdle, for example, if you're unsure how to adjust a machine or where to stand, the gym can feel intimidating, and it may seem like everyone is just waiting for you to move. The overall vibe of the gym matters too. If the space seems designed for one type of crowd, like hardcore lifters or people with a specific aesthetic, other members can easily feel like outsiders."
Gymtimidation is more than a fleeting feeling, it can significantly impact participation, causing many to skip workouts or leave the space prematurely. These feelings can cause people to avoid gyms entirely or leave prematurely.
If feelings of intimidation and judgement are the problem, then striving for inclusivity shapes the solution. But what does an inclusive gym look like to those that visit?
43% of Americans said their gym is only somewhat inclusive but has room to improve, whereas one in 12 (8%) said it wasn't welcoming or inclusive at all. When asked what would make them feel safer or more comfortable, respondents revealed that accessibility, social comfort, and privacy matter most.
Dr. Jenkins notes that inclusivity starts with visibility: "Inclusive gyms make it easier for people from all backgrounds including beginners, older adults, individuals with larger bodies, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members, to engage without fear of judgment. This approach shifts the focus from appearance and weight loss to functional goals like building strength, improving mobility, boosting energy, and supporting mood stability.
"When mental well-being and inclusivity are treated as core values rather than extras, gyms reduce the risk of body shaming, unrealistic expectations, and harassment, while fostering a healthier relationship with movement for everyone."
She explains: "For beginners, the key is to start with a plan that's short, simple, and repeatable, so that early workouts build confidence instead of overwhelm. A 20 minute 'confidence circuit' is a great example: begin with a five minute warm-up walk, then pick three beginner friendly machines, such as the leg press, chest press, and lat pulldown, and do two sets of eight to 12 reps on each. Keep the weight light enough that you could manage two to four additional reps if needed, just enough to challenge your muscles without risking strain.
"Another approach is to start in a neutral zone, such as a cardio area or stretching mat where you feel comfortable, and gradually add new exercises in nearby areas each week. For those who prefer predictability, low-intensity cardio, like walking or cycling at a pace where you can speak in full sentences, is a gentle way to build the habit of showing up. The goal isn't to master every machine or exercise right away, but to create a consistent pattern of small, achievable wins that steadily expand your comfort zone."
Our insight makes one thing clear: Gymtimidation is real, but it can be actively addressed and prevented. By creating spaces that prioritize respect, inclusivity, and support, gyms can transform the experience for every member. The result? Greater confidence, improved well-being, and the motivation to show up consistently, turning fitness into a space where everyone can thrive.
Survey
We commissioned a survey of 1,000 Americans who actively go to the gym or have visited one in the
past few years, conducted via Pollfish in October 2025.
Methodology
We compiled a list of nine popular gym chains across America and collected all their online reviews,
spanning 1–5 stars. From these, we identified a set of key terms associated with intimidation, judgment, and anxiety,
and cross-referenced them against the 1–2 star reviews. We then analyzed this dataset to determine
the most frequently mentioned terms overall and examined how these keywords differed between women and men.
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