![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1192282809.jpg\")
\n\t\tA Mumsnet post about the gym\u2019s new policy has sparked outrage (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tA Mumsnet post about the gym\u2019s new policy has sparked outrage (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
When a small Lancashire<\/a> gym<\/a> sent out a text to its female members, it sparked uproar.<\/p>\n It stated that unless you were a woman<\/a> aged 12 to 24, you wouldn\u2019t be welcome in the gym throughout the week during the hours of 4pm to 7pm.<\/p>\n To make matters worse, it becomes a male-only gym after 7pm, meaning women aged 25 and over are effectively banned on weeknights.<\/p>\n So far, reports have hinged on a Mumsnet post that didn\u2019t name the gym, but after some sleuthing, Metro <\/strong>found out the gym in question is Bodies in Motion in Brierfield, Pendle.<\/p>\n The gym sent a text message about the new age limit to customers, claiming it was designed to \u2018better cater to our younger female members who require a dedicated, comfortable space during peak after-school and early evening hours.\u2019<\/p>\n A disgruntled woman took to Mumsnet to share a screenshot of the text and said she\u2019d be cancelling her membership<\/a>, as she would no longer be able to attend the gym in the hours that work for her.<\/p>\n She wrote: \u2018This is ridiculous, right?\u2019 And the internet seemed to seemed to agree.<\/p>\n \u2018I suspect there is some insufferable person in charge who wants a young, hip and happening vibe, so isn\u2019t bothered about losing boring old middle-aged women,\u2019 said one.<\/p>\n \t\t Metro contacted the business for a statement but an official spokesperson is yet to reply. But we did manage to speak to individual employees on the phone, who confirmed they were aware of the new age restrictions and the details set out on Mumsnet are correct.<\/p>\n The employees claimed the company hadn\u2019t explicitly told them why this change had been implemented, although they suggested you could still enter during your chosen hours if your pass worked.<\/p>\n There seems to be some confusion about how strictly it will be enforced, and whether members will be asked to show age-verifying ID upon entry.<\/p>\n One employee said the new policy is \u2018only really for old women above 50\u2019, but didn\u2019t know the manager\u2019s motives. <\/p>\n The gym\u2019s website claims it believes \u2018everyone \u2013 regardless of background or circumstance deserves the opportunity to thrive.\u2019 <\/p>\n Yet the decision to ban older women from a female-only space <\/a>feels like yet another example of how women\u2019s rights and worth plummets when we no longer look youthful and \u2018attractive\u2019.<\/p>\n Why work out anyway if we\u2019re past the infamous Leonardo Di Caprio cut off for desirability?<\/p>\n Dr Ruth Hackett, a Kings College London lecturer in health psychology with a particular interest in discrimination, tells Metro <\/strong>the gym\u2019s actions are acting as a \u2018barrier\u2019 for older women to access healthy habits.<\/p>\n \u2018It seems counterproductive to exclude women over 25 during peak hours from the gym when they should be safe spaces for women of all ages,\u2019 Dr Hackett says.<\/p>\n Personal trainer working with midlife women, Niki Wood, branded the ban \u2018dreadful\u2019, telling Metro<\/strong>: \u2018There are already so many barriers to women exercising \u2013 pregnancy, menstrual issues, perimenopause, childcare \u2013 so adding a time restriction to exercise hours completely defeats the objective.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s tone deaf to the life responsibilities of women.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Niki adds the fitness industry already lacks visual representation of older women. \u2018Most fitness influencers are white, thin, muscled with big boobs and a bum \u2013 this suggests fitness culture is based around a particular image of beauty,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n \u2018Add this to the pre-existing gendered ageism and it means many older women lack confidence and feel unwelcome in fitness spaces.\u2019<\/p>\n Dr Hackett agrees discrimination against older women is very common and emphasises the need for access to safe spaces, away from the \u2018threat of sexism\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018My research with more than 3000 women aged 52 and over shows one in 10 women are treated with less respect, receive poorer service, and are threatened or harassed,\u2019 Dr Hackett explains.<\/p>\n Her research suggests women subjected to this treatment ultimately had poorer mental health, were more likely to be depressed and lonely, and also had a poorer quality of life.<\/p>\n The doctor explains that this exclusion from a safe single sex space will \u2018exacerbate\u2019 the already negative mental health implications of sexism, because it reinforces the social construct that older women are less than.<\/p>\n Fitness coach Niki adds: \u2018Women have to struggle to maintain self-worth as we age, as the message given by the media and society is that a woman\u2019s value is based around youth and beauty \u2013 this ban contributes to that message.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-e5f2.png\")
\n\t\tPart of the text sent to members of Bodies in Motion gym (Picture: Mumsnet\/ @Whenlifegivesyouoranges)<\/p>\n![\"Dumbbell,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2156909108.jpg\")
\n\t\tAge restrictions send the message that the more you age, the less you matter (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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