Uber-gyms Virgin Active are no longer concerned with just tackling obesity in humans – they have now turned their attentions to pets too.

Responding to a recent increase in pet obesity in the UK,  affecting all species from cats and dogs, to rabbits, hamsters, gerbils and budgies, the Animal Active gyms will include exercise classes such as ‘Pooch Paunch Buster’, ‘Puuroebics’, ‘Wag Attack’, ‘Canine Crunch’ and ‘Pawlates’. There will be nutritionists on hand for any diet queries – and the gym will also include a ‘weigh in’ area for pet owners to check the weight of their pets.

Sir Richard Branson commented,

‘The UK obesity epidemic is affecting the whole family, animals included. With more overweight and unift pets living in the UK than ever before, we want to tackle this head on. Opening our first ever ‘Animal Active’ is a great way to do this. We hope that members and their pet will enjoy working out together’

With heart disease, diabetes and arthritis all associated with being overweight, it seems Animal Active hasn’t arrived a moment too soon.

Virgin Active has today released five tips to help you monitor your pet’s weight and lifestyle choices:

  • Check with your vet what you pet’s weight should be.
  • If your animal won’t stay on the scales, weigh yourself holding your pet and deduct your own weight.
  • If you can’t feel your pet’s ribs, then it’s likely they may be over weight.
  • A  reluctance to breathe or do exercise are signs that your pet may be too fat.
  • Look at your dog from above. You should be able to see some indentation behind the rib cage, depicting an hour glass shape; if you can’t, your pet is overweight.

Animal Active gyms will open next year.