Local gym owners are urging the Scottish Government to re-think how they re-open the economy.
Simon Thomson from Base Fitness and Crossfit, alongside Lucy Dawson from Strathaven FTPT, are appealing to the Scottish Government to rethink their strategy when it comes to reopening businesses when the country comes out of lockdown.
The Eat Out To Help Out Scheme was a huge success for the hospitality industry but many – including Simon and Lucy –believe that the hospitality industry needs to be put behind the fitness industry in terms of importance.
Simon told the News : “Gyms were first to close and were kept closed the longest in the initial lockdown.
“Hospitality was last to close and was allowed to reopen earlier than gyms.
“There were even government schemes encouraging people to eat out in a bid to kick-start the hospitality industry again.
“Pubs were open when gyms weren’t.
“It’s known that transmission of the virus in the hospitality sector has been high, and almost zero in gyms.
“So with transmission not being a risk in gyms, alongside the added benefit exercise would have on people physically and mentally, I think the government should reopen gyms before the hospitality sector.”
Lucy of Strathaven FTPT agrees with Simon, but also believes that the gym and fitness industry should reopen sooner than the hospitality sector in a bid to combat the countries obesity problem and further protect the NHS.
She told the News : “People don’t just go to the gym to exercise to look good, people do it for a number of health reasons.
“Regular exercise helps people with fertility issues, with liver problems and can help to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Whilst gyms were forced to closed, restaurants and fast food chains were able to offer discounted food.
“The government placed too much focus on boosting the hospitality industry, it forgot about people’s physical and mental health.
“Not only is junk food bad for your physical health, but it makes you feel sluggish and brings down your mental health.
“The priorities are wrong.
“Every year, the NHS spends a fortune on treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
“Encouraging good nutrition and exercise would save the NHS, and especially in these current times when it is already under so much strain due to Covid.
“The government must re-think it’s priorities in order to protect the NHS.
“Gyms and the fitness industry must be classed as essential and should be open through all levels of the tier system and throughout lockdown.”
