We may be ‘the healthiest generation ever’, but as I work out I wonder ... would I be happier at the pub?

‘The pub was a huge part of growing up for me – it’s where my friendships formed and solidified.’ Photograph: The Guardian

A couple of years ago, I became obsessed with changing my body. Inspired by “gymfluencers” and an Instagram feed filled with workouts and progress journeys, I dug into gym culture, often spending two hours weightlifting in one day, nauseous from chocolate-flavoured shakes and consuming more than 100g of protein daily to bulk my gluteal muscles and build a “revenge booty”.

Statistics suggest I am not alone. A recent industry report shows that gym memberships for gen Zers have risen quickly over the past few years, almost doubling since 2020. Moreover, 30% of this generation are regularly working out in fitness facilities, compared with 15-25% of the total adult population.