Statistics
Couples & exercise statistics (2026): does working out with your partner help?
What research says about exercising with a partner: dropout rates, how one partner's habits rub off on the other, and long-distance couples. Every figure sourced.
Partners shape each other's habits more than almost anyone else. These are the most-cited findings on couples and exercise, checked against the original studies, with their limits noted.
Do couples who join a gym together stick with it?
In a 12-month study of a university fitness program, married people who joined with their spouse attended more often and were far less likely to quit than married people who joined alone. The sample was small (16 couples and 30 married individuals), so treat the exact numbers as indicative.
- Average monthly attendance was 54.2% for couples who joined together vs. 40.3% for those who joined alone.[1]
- Half of the people who dropped out cited family responsibilities or a lack of support from their spouse.[1]
- Self-motivation scores did not differ between the groups; the researchers attribute the difference mainly to spousal support.[1]
Does your partner's behavior change yours?
A study of 3,722 married and cohabiting couples aged 50 and over in England found that when one partner adopted a healthier habit, the other was much more likely to follow.
- Quitting smoking: 48% of men and 50% of women quit when their partner quit too, vs. 8% when their partner kept smoking.[2]
- Losing 5% or more of body weight: 26% of men and 36% of women did when their partner also lost weight, vs. 10% and 15%.[2]
- A partner who newly changed their habits had a stronger effect than a partner who had always been healthy.[2]
Long-distance couples
A nationally representative U.S. study (N = 870) compared long-distance and close-proximity relationships.
- People in long-distance relationships reported higher relationship quality and more dedication to the relationship on several measures.[3]
- They were as likely as couples living close together to have broken up by the follow-up.[3]
FAQ
Do couples who work out together stay with it longer?
In one 12-month study, only 6.3% of married couples who joined a fitness program together dropped out, compared with 43% of married people who joined alone (Wallace et al., 1995). The study was small.
Does my partner's exercise habit affect mine?
Yes. In a study of 3,722 couples, 67% of men and 66% of women became more active when their partner did, vs. about a quarter when their partner stayed inactive (Jackson et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015).
Can I use these statistics?
Yes. This page and its charts are licensed CC BY 4.0. Please link to this page as the source.
Use these statistics
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Sources
- Wallace JP, Raglin JS, Jastremski CA. “Twelve month adherence of adults who joined a fitness program with a spouse vs without a spouse.” J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 1995;35(3):206–13. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Jackson SE, Steptoe A, Wardle J. “The influence of partner's behavior on health behavior change: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.” JAMA Intern Med, 2015;175(3):385–92. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Kelmer G, Rhoades GK, Stanley S, Markman HJ. “Relationship quality, commitment, and stability in long-distance relationships.” Fam Process, 2013;52(2):257–70. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Figures are reported as published by each source; surveys differ in year, country and wording, so compare with care. Spot an error? Email us and we'll fix it.