Tanning Beds Still Remain A Fixture In Many Gyms Despite Danger Of Skin Cancer. 

What Are Tanning Beds And How Do They Affect The Skin?

Tanning beds remain common in that shrine to healthy living which are gyms widely condemned for driving up skin cancer risks. 

In three of America’s six largest gym chains, Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, and Gold’s Gym, that’s the finding from a study of tanning beds. 

In the areas included in the study of 33 states and Washington D.C. collectively they operate more than 1900 branches. The focus was those branches representing about 40% of the chains’ nationwide business. 

Leading the study was Sherry Pagoto, a clinical psychologist and professor of allied health sciences at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, who led the study saying that appears to be the new tanning salons are gyms.

Her team reached 1,700 gyms in the three chains by phone between June 2018 and February 2019. Offering on-site tanning was more than three quarters they said. 

What Are The Results Of The Study Conducted On Popular Gyms? 

Pagoto says that they found that 78% of the gyms came with tanning beds on average. Most likely to have them were branches in the Midwest. 

Offering customers access to tanning beds was almost all (99%) Planet Fitness gyms they contacted. In 65% of Anytime Fitness gyms, and 41% of Gold’'s gyms beds were also available. About 20% of Anytime facilities were unreachable as the team reached almost all Planet Fitness and Gold’s branches. 

Pagoto quips that come to be a lot of tanning beds. 

3736 belonged to Planet Fitness and nearly 800 to Anytime of the 4660 tanning beds across the three chains. The findings showed Gold’s branches accounted for 20% of the beds. 

Gold’s said it removed tanning beds from all of its company-owned locations in 2016 in a statement. The statement further explains they have currently 123 company-owned gyms with none of which have tanning beds. About whether to offer tanning, some of their US franchisees who independently own and operate their gyms can make their own decisions. 

Responding to requests for comments were neither Planet Fitness nor Anytime Fitness. 

The Stand Of The Skin Cancer Foundation 

Responding strongly to the findings was Dr. Deborah Sarnoff, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation,

As Sarnoff says, to then use a tanning bed and severely damage your skin, to her it's an oxymoron to go to a gym or health club to be healthy only. A healthy tan is not a true term. It’s a sign you have sustained skin cell damage if you have one. 

She noted that many people especially those who are physically active still prize a tan even though an estimated 419,000 cases of skin cancer in the United States are attributed to tanning beds every year. 

Calling that a dangerous misconception, Sarnoff said, especially if they are young and otherwise healthy, many still believe skin cancer can never happen to them. Boosting their melanoma risk by 75% are those who use a tanning bed before the age of 35. 

On only three of the six largest gym chains, the researchers said the study was limited by its focus. Only SNAP Fitness has tanning beds of the others. According to their corporate offices, LA Fitness and 24Hour Fitness have none. 

To competition and customer, demand was Pagoto attributing the continued availability of tanning beds at many gyms. 

As Pagoto continues, for their patrons, they know this is a hot selling point. She further adds that having one thing in common is exercise and tanning. By the desire to improve physical appearance, they are both motivated. For their patrons, gyms want to be one-stop shopping. 

She said that they have to ask does this gym prioritise their health, when the amenities they offer are known to cause cancer. 

The Final Words On The Discussion 

Applying to businesses that charge per tanning-bed session was as Pagoto noted that the 10% tanning tax put in place with the adoption of the Affordable Care Act only. Some people who would never spend money on tanning otherwise might start as she said with unlimited tanning included in many gym memberships. 

They cannot rely on legislation alone to end dangerous behaviours as regardless of this Sarnoff argues. 

As long as there is a desire to use indoor tanning devices, she pointed out that people will always find loopholes. This means education and awareness are so important. They are more likely to make healthier choices once people understand the dangers and consequences of tanning.