The table illustrates the proportion of people from different age groups who visited the gym once a month or more between 1984 and 2003.
Overall, the percentage of younger individuals (aged 16–25 and 26–45) attending the gym increased significantly over the period, with the 16–25 group showing the largest growth. In contrast, the proportion of gym-goers in the 46–65 age group decreased, while the 65+ group experienced a moderate increase but remained one of the least active demographics by the end of the period.
In 1984, the 26–45 age group had the highest percentage of gym attendees at 30%, double that of the 16–25 age group, which ranked third at 15%. By 2003, the ranking had changed, as the 16–25 group surged to 65%, overtaking all other age groups. Meanwhile, the 26–45 group, although dropping from first to second place, saw a steady rise in participation, reaching 55% by the end of the period.
The 46–65 age group initially accounted for 20% of gym-goers in 1984, making it the second most active demographic at the time. However, this figure dropped considerably to 15% in 2003, ranking it as the least active age group at the end of the period. In contrast, the 65+ group, which had the smallest percentage of attendees in 1984 at just 5%, experienced a fourfold increase to 20% in 2003, although it still represented the second smallest proportion of gym-goers.
Task 2