Why do some people choose to walk on treadmills at the gym?

[MagpiePi]

I will start off by saying, I am not trying to be goady or suggest that people are wrong, I am just curious.

When I go to the gym there are always people who walk on the treadmills and I wonder why they don't walk outside instead. They are often young (it is in an area with a lot of student flats) with no obvious mobility issues, they are not using cars as they are walking too and from the gym. It is daytime, the weather is fine - not raining, not too hot or cold, the gym is not in a dodgy area or surrounded by roads clogged with traffic and pollution. They are not setting the treadmill to an incline or walking at a sustained brisk pace, but are generally ambling along on the flat.

The only reason I can think of is that it means they can watch videos or scroll on their phones without worrying about walking in dog shit or having to look up to cross roads or avoid other people but still get their step count up.

Am I missing something?

They can also say "I was at the gym" if anyone asks, people use gyms for a wide variety of reasons- getting fit isn't the only one.

I walk every day outside with my dogs. I also walk on a treadmill set to an incline when I go to the gym.
My reasons for this are that I have rheumatoid arthritis, running impacts my joints too much and walking uphill at a brisk pace is good cardio. I go to the gym when DS is at his many sporting activities at the sports centre.

Don't judge people. I'm sure those you're watching have their reasons for what they do in the gym, just as you do.

You could also go for a run outside, or run on the street. You don't need a treadmill for that either. Who cares why? They have their reasons. Warming up, cooling down?

I have a treadmill at home. I walk. I walk (at a good clip) because I am hypermobile and running is too high impact. I will have a world of pain if I run. Treadmills are also incredibly boring, so I watch TV or listen to an audiobook when on it. Sure, I'd rather be outside doing a real hike but who has the time for that? Also why I have a treadmill at home - who has the time to go to the gym when you can cut the travel time? Who wants to compete for equipment or go where other people have sweated?

To each their own. Just get on with your own work out the way others get on with theirs.

Maybe because it’s boiling outside and they’re enjoying the air con whilst exercising?

They do? I can't think of any.

A good friend, a radiographer, (who I actually first met in the gym!) never, ever runs. She always walks on the treadmill because she says she's seen so many shattered knees caused by running it put her off forever.
But if you aren't trying to be "goady", why would you take to Mumsnet? The gym is for everyone, of every ability and maybe you should just stay in your lane and open your mind a bit.

Rehabilitation program. Minimising an existing health condition with movement. Not necessarily to increase fitness, but maintain other areas of their body that are at risk of deterioration.

If you saw me in my gym walking on the treadmill you’d think I don’t have an obvious mobility issue. But I do. It’s just not obvious.
I like the treadmill. It’s good gentle exercise for my joints.

Health conditions? I have lupus safer for my to walk indoors M, fewer hazards etc

My mother used to go almost exclusively to meet up with her friends, I have also known people whoose home situation is not great and they use it to get out of the house /flat.

Well it’s fricking hot here at the moment so an aircond. gym sounds fab to me. Also no where to walk by me, to get out into woods or heath I need my car, and all the car parks are pretty much full from 10:00-20:00 as we’re in a popular spot with tourists. Oh and you have to pay for parking. If you live in a large town or city, walking around pavements isn’t much fun really, so if your walking in an urban area without a park nearby, I can understand why a treadmill would seem a better choice. Some parks aren’t very safe, and one in my nearest city is definitely a no go zone if you are on your own and not a ‘proper’ local.
if you live in a very hilly area, and just starting out on getting fit, it’s going to be easier when you can chose the gradient, and start to improve your fitness. It’s also much easier to do a fast walk on a treadmill than it is on tarmac. And it’s so blinking dry here that even if you are off road the paths are almost as hard as the asphalt.
much easier on the joints, so many reasons perhaps the question should be; why does anyone walk outside when it places much more strain on your joints, than in the gym?!

You can track things more accurately on the treadmill. You can do it in any weather and becomes part of the routine. It’s safe. You can use other equipment too - I used the treadmill to warm up. You don’t have to stop when crossing a street, feel self conscious, dodge dog poo or uneven pavements or other people. You can use the time to read or watch something.

To avoid dangerous streets, car fumes, utilise gym child care etc.

It's humid outside, maybe it's drizzling, I live near M25 so there's air pollution. A thousand reasons why people prefer to use (air conditioned) treadmills at gyms. 35 deg here today. I can't imagine why people prefer to walk inside a gym than outside right now 🙄. I'm dragging myself out of bed to go for a walk outside today as I like to have a nose at people's gardens but at least I'm not staring at people in a gym and being snitty about their life choices!

I swear this came up recently along with the 'no obvious mobility issues' comment.

I'm 52. I have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, degenerative discs, fibromyalgia, and thanks to a riding accident which smashed my pelvis rods pinning me back together. I walk on the treadmill because I need a softer supportive even surface. I can control my pace and the incline. None of this is obvious if you look at me.

I also pay my money like everyone else and as such can use the equipment like everyone else.

I may try this! Did it on roads years ago but it was always such a a pain to have to keep stopping to cross a road. Don’t have any suitable parks near me.
Anyway. I have noticed the treadmills are busier recently. Just assumed it’s the hot weather. I am doing more walking at gym now. My young adult daughters prefer to do long walking sessions on treadmill because of traffic and men.

yep, same here

I walk because even with a good sports bra it hurts my 34J boobs!

Perhaps it's because they don't have access to places like this to walk.

For me it's so I can get my steps done when it's too hot outside and UV is high. I've had melanoma twice, so have to limit my outdoors time, especially during peak UV hours.

Because I’ve just done at least 90 mini]utes of weight training. Cardio is a wind down so walking is fine

I think there are loads of reason; injury, warm-up/down, etc. Also, if you’ve never been on a treadmill you might not have the confidence to run on it.

Oh DH does this as advised by his coach at the gym. He has a fitness programme to help him lose weight and has to go on each piece of equipment x amount of minutes. Then logs it on a chart.

I had a gym membership in my early 20s. I would often walk at decent speed on treadmill because I couldn't tolerate the sexual harrassment (catcalls, white van beeps etc) I got when trying to briskly walk around my local area in exercise gear. It made me feel unsafe.

Getting in steps, consistently walking at an incline, using a pre programme of intervals on inclines.

But, so what?