The Disordered Eating Crisis Destroying Your Retention

It's not your equipment. It's not your trainers. It's the silent battle with food and body image that your gym isn't equipped to address.

150+

15

Years of experience

Happy clients

The Hidden Numbers

75% of gym staff have suspected a member of struggling with food or body image issues. But members rarely disclose. The shame is too great in an environment focused on "perfect" bodies and "clean eating."

59% of female fitness instructors and 22% of male instructors have disordered eating. They're teaching classes while fighting their own battles with food and body image.

Your Staff Are Struggling Too

The Shame Factor

Your Members Are At Risk

The Specific Struggles Nobody Talks About

Provide a short summary of your recent projects, highlighting the most important things.

Binge Eating Patterns

1 in 50 people struggle with binge eating—that's 1.25 million in the UK, and gym members are at significantly higher risk. Members work out religiously all week, then lose control with food on weekends. The shame spiral leads them to avoid the gym entirely, then cancel.

Stress & Emotional Eating

Stress, anxiety, loneliness—they turn to food for comfort. Less than 50% ever receive treatment, suffering in silence. Exercise can't fix this, and the guilt after emotional eating episodes makes them avoid the gym for weeks.

Binge-Starve Cycle

They restrict calories all week while training hard, leading to weekend binges. This is becoming a social norm in gym culture—"I earned this cheat day"—but it's destroying people's mental health and your retention.

Body Dysmorphia

They see themselves as larger (or smaller) than they are. Mirrors in the gym trigger intense distress. Most never tell anyone—they just stop going to the gym, cancel training, and eventually quit.

Compensatory Exercise Behaviors

They over-exercise to "compensate" for eating. This is praised in gym culture as "dedication," when it's actually harmful behaviour that leads to injury, burnout, and dropout.

Obsession with "clean eating" becomes all-consuming. The fitness industry's diet culture contributes to these patterns, then offers no professional support when members spiral and "slip up," and then shame drives them away.

Orthorexia & Food Obsession

The Reality: For every member who admits to struggling, there are 3-5 more suffering in silence. Gym culture makes people feel they should have "perfect" control over food and bodies. The shame stops them seeking help until it's too late—and they've already cancelled their membership.

What This Crisis Costs Your Business

An average gym scenario:

65% of members struggle with food/body issues = 130 members (in 200-member gym)
40% of these members quit within 12 months = 52 lost members/year

52 × £50/month × 12 months = £31,200

Lost revenue from disordered eating-related cancellations alone

Additional costs:
• Lifetime value loss: 52 × £1,800 = £93,600
• Acquisition costs to replace: 52 × £150 = £7,800
• Reputation damage from word-of-mouth

Total annual impact: £100,000+

Introducing a New Better Way

Imagine if your gym could actually help members not only build muscle and get fit, but also help heal their relationship with their bodies and food.

150+

15

Years of experience

Happy clients

Send us a Message

Let's get your members and staff supported. Share what you need, and we'll be in touch.