Love Island spikes searches for a healthier lifestyle, deeming an ‘impossible’ body image

Searches for gym memberships, healthy foods and workout plans have surged since the start of ITV2’s reality dating show Love Island, online retailer SportsShoes.com has revealed.

The results show an increase of 52% enthusiastic Brits searching for gym memberships during its first week of airing in 2018. Additionally, 66% more millennials performed searches around healthy eating plans in the first month of Love Island, compared to the month before the show started its nightly run.

Our Worcester News reporter has enquired at the local gyms if they have been affected by an increase of memberships or requests for personal trainers.

Gym manager, Steve Nettleford at the Whitehouse, in Worcester Foregate Street, said: “There has definitely been more interest over the summer. We have swimming pool facilities, so this attracts many people when it’s warm – especially with the summer we are having. However, it’s hard to say if this is related to the show Love Island. We have spent more on advertising, done more leaflet drops and spoken to more local companies than ever before, so it is hard to tell what main factor is.”

Dave Preece, personal trainer at MSJ Sports and Fitness Centre, in Malvern, said: “Speaking from my own stats as a personal trainer, I have to say that based over a couple of weeks there’s been a lot of interest in training here. A few clients have actually mentioned Love Island to me in their consultations.”

Clearly the ‘Islanders’ have motivated some to kickstart a fitness routine. However, George Pearce, fitness ambassador for SportsShoes.com, suggests it should be one that is sustainable, has the right balance, right goals and isn’t centred on vanity alone.

He said: “I fear that these shows may lead to an increasingly persecutory approach to exercise, one that has the potential to do far more damage than good, especially in regard to mental health. I question the impact of the Love Island fantasy on our physical and mental wellbeing. We should always be placing good health much higher than vanity when it comes to our fitness. It’s great to join a gym or start a fitness plan, but it shouldn’t be done simply because the TV has made you feel like you should.”

Health food shops in the city have given their opinion on the reported increase of interest within the health food section.

Jennie Reffold, assistant manager at Revital Health Shop in The Shambles, Worcester said: “Difficult to say as we are always busy in here. I wouldn’t say sales have gone up, or more youngsters have particularly been coming in. We see lots of young people who are keen to be healthy - especially vegans. The vegan diet has definitely taken off recently. However, I wouldn’t say Love Island has contributed towards that.”

Head of senior sales, David Cumbes, at Holland and Barrett’s in Mealcheapen Street, Worcester said: “More youngsters nowadays are into health and fitness, but I wouldn’t necessarily say the programme Love Island has changed that or encouraged people to eat better – or at least people are not admitting that. It is the norm for young adults to purchase these protein supplements as more and more people are visiting the gym nowadays. Holland and Barrett’s are always a busy shop, and the health foods section is continually a popular choice. So, I can’t really say whether there has been an increase in sales.”