A Shocking Number of Women Avoid the Gym for Fear of Being Judged

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It’s not uncommon for a little anxiety to creep into your gym time. Am I doing this right? Are people staring at my sweat stains? If you’ve ever felt intimidated walking into a weight room, you’re certainly not alone. According to a new survey, gymtimidation does more than just cause a little anxiety—it’s keeping a shocking number of women at home.

Sixty-five percent of women actually avoid the gym over a fear of being judged, according to a survey of 1,000 people across the U.S. by Fitrated, a platform for gym equipment reviews. By comparison, only 36 percent of men felt that way.

The list of gym fears goes on. Fifty-five percent of women feel they’re being judged for “not looking fit enough,” 49 percent fret about their clothing choice, and 25 percent fear being stereotyped. (See: How to Pump Up Your Body Confidence at the Gym)