Summary
• New long-term research suggests that a varied exercise routine can increase longevity and reduce mortality risk.
• People who take part in multiple types of physical activity each week are up to 19% less likely to die than those focusing on just one exercise.
• Exercise variety delivers greater health benefits than relying on individual activities such as running, walking or rowing alone.
• Combining cardio, strength, flexibility and balance training supports overall fitness and reduces boredom.
• A diverse workout routine allows people to adapt exercise to their energy levels, mood and physical ability.
• Public outdoor gym equipment makes varied exercise accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
10th February 2026
New research has indicated that undertaking a range of weekly physical activities could boost your chances of leading a longer, healthier life.
As reported by the BBC, researchers tracked the weekly exercise routines of 110,000 American adults over three decades. They learned that those who undertook the broadest variety of workouts were almost a fifth (19%) less likely to die during that time than participants who just focused on a single exercise type.
And the positive impact of this was greater than for doing individual activities such as tennis, walking, running or rowing.
While the overall quantity of workout time still matters, completing a variety of activity types yields many advantages. You may find, for example, that each exercise you do offers something different – and that you don’t get bored since you’re always doing something new.
Equally, often the activities benefit each other. To be a good runner, for instance, it really pays to have some weights or strength training under your belt.
What’s more, you can adapt what you do to suit your mood and energy levels on a particular day, perhaps, say, going for a calming yoga session rather than something more physically intense. You’ll still be achieving and contributing towards your fitness goals, just in a different way.
One way of getting in a variety of workouts which you may not have previously considered is to go to an outdoor gym. Not only are these public amenities free at the point of use, but there’s also bound to be one near you, plus they allow you to get in a varied, full-body workout, whatever your level of fitness or ability.
At Fresh Air Fitness, we’re an award-winning, leading provider of outdoor gym equipment across the UK. So we’re very aware of the myriad ways outdoor workout facilities can transform local communities and the lives of their people, whatever their age.
At the same time, we fully understand just how important it is for us all to exercise regularly; something which is constantly backed up by many different pieces of research. And, last year, we were pleased to report Sport England findings revealing that more UK adults than ever were exercising to government-recommended levels, i.e. doing a minimum of 150 weekly minutes of moderate-intensity activity.
At Fresh Air Fitness, frankly we weren’t surprised at the research highlighting the benefits of a varied exercise regime – it’s something we’ve long been aware of. And we’re confident that our equipment could be just what your community needs for people to enjoy diverse workouts.
We work for many different clients – from parks, schools and other public spaces to locations where you’d perhaps not traditionally expect to find a facility like this, from motorway service stations to prisons.
Our high-quality, great-value products are all UK-designed and built, while the adult range comprises more than 50 pieces offering options from cardio and strength to flexibility and balance. We also have items suitable for wheelchair users.
It’s worth checking out our Big Rig, for example, offering eight individual workout stations with multiple pull-up bars plus a versatile full-body training experience for up to 20 users at any one time, from total beginners to hardened gym bunnies.
The line-up of pieces for children at Key Stages 1 & 2 and secondary school is equally varied.
We’re with clients from initial idea through to installation and beyond, while every piece of kit comes with a 25-year warranty. Take the first step – get in touch today for an informal chat about what an open-air workout station could do where you live or work.
