The New Year’s resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle really is short-lived, lasting approximately one month – the number of month-passes to gym shrinks by 23% as soon as in February. Although, after a let up in the second month, people return in gyms in March with yet increased resolve to gain the desired “beach body”, according to BTA Baltic Insurance Company (BTA) data.

The resolution to exercise more as of the new year can be easily spotted. For Health insurance policies, purchased at the end of the year, there is usually an increased interest in inclusion of Gym classes cover. There is also a traditional rise in the number of purchased month-passes to gym in December and January. However, as soon as in February there is a recession, with the number of gym-goers shrinking by nearly a quarter. In 2017, this recession was somewhat balanced by an increase in the number of swimming classes.

Last year, after the lazy February people considerably reactivated in March, as the number of gym passes rose by 33%. It even was by a tenth larger than in January.

“Although there are many, who resolve to get more exercise next year on the New Year’s Eve, a large part of them come to fulfilling this vow to themselves just in spring, when the thick winter clothes come off and the people around can appraise the effort made. Proportionately rises the motivation to visit gym, a hard thing to manage in winter months for many. This suggests that selection of a Health insurance policy should be based on long-term planning, which means inclusion of the cover of exercising in gym also when it is not a plan for days within an arm’s reach,” suggests Ivo Danče, BTA Baltic Insurance Risks Underwriting Department Director.

Interesting to note that, at the beginning of the century, a new year with a resolution to exercise more was started for the major part by women, although now the statistics of indemnity payments between genders has levelled, a signal that men as well want to be more active physically.

Most active gym visitors are office workers from IT, communications and finance fields. For the major part of these people, the business day is spent in front of a computer monitor, with very little movement around, therefore visiting gym is a good way to stretch their limbs and get moving.

About BTA

BTA Baltic Insurance Company is one of the leading insurance companies in the Baltics, offering the broadest range of non-life insurance services in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. BTA employs more than 1 000 employees in the Baltics. The largest shareholder of BTA is Vienna Insurance Group AG with 200 years of experience in the insurance industry. More than 50 companies in 25 countries constitute the group, which employs 25,000 employees. Vienna Insurance Group AG is a clear leader in its core markets in Europe maintaining high rating of financial stability – Standard & Poor’s A+ (stable outlook), with a listing on the Vienna and the Prague Stock Exchange.

Additional information:
Elīna Rasmane
Marketing and Public Relations Department Director
BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS
e-mail: elina.rasmane@bta.lv