Are body-conscious Brits putting their health at risk?
28 May 2008
With summer sneaking up on us, the race to get a super-toned beach body is under way.
Extra trips to the gym at lunch time and after work tanning sessions at a trendy beauty parlour are on the increase for those trying to spruce themselves up before summer officially begins.
But worryingly it is not only the over 18s who are indulging in these excessive regimes to be body-perfect; children as young as eight are booking themselves in for a session on the sun bed.
Amidst cancer scare warnings and growing health warnings, is it actually safe to put our bodies through these processes in order to look good in our swimwear?
According to Alex Wakeley, Director at Lloyd’s insurer Marketform, air brush tanning is now becoming increasingly popular as a result of the cancer risk from sun beds.
“We do provide cover for a vast number of beauty treatments ranging from chemical peels, aromatherapy, botox, laser treatment and waxing,” Wakeley commented.
“However, we do need to keep on our toes as almost every week there is some kind of new procedure that we will have to look into and incorporate within our cover. Typically, the policy for these different types of treatment would be covered by our Medical Malpractice and Public Liability, which provides full policy cover for doctors, nurses and corporate entities.
“We have very broad spectrum coverage and we can offer worldwide jurisdiction but with regard to sun beds we restrict our cover to people over the age of 18.”
Further to enhancing our physical appearance, a dazzling Hollywood-white celebrity smile is among the list of aesthetic must-haves. Stars such as Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Tom Cruise are all said to have undergone cosmetic teeth whitening in order to maintain those perfect pearly whites.
Wakeley adds: “Another popular trend is teeth whitening so checking out the acceptable practitioners is completely necessary. From the aesthetic side we are involved with some of the top ten surgery clinics that deal with breast enhancement, tummy tucks and nose jobs.”
Safety in gyms is also important as accidents can happen while using equipment or during an aerobics class, Paul Thomas, Underwriter for Lloyd’s insurer Sportscover, explains: “Under a public liability cover we would protect people against the accidents that happen when using equipment or during a personal training session.
“The main causes of accidents occurring in gyms at the moment are slips and trips around the shower area. Providing non-slip matting in these wet floor areas and on the floor leading to swimming pools can prevent this. Also providing suitable waiting areas for equipment is important.”
Providing cover for the gym instructors themselves is also something that Sportscover takes into consideration.
Thomas adds: “A significant change within most clubs now is that they employ freelance instructors who work in specialised areas, like martial arts. By hiring these individuals the company is reducing the risk to the actual club itself and pushing the blame back to the trainers. We do provide block policies for these trainers, which would be public liability with a professional indemnity extension, but they must have appropriate qualifications approved by a government body.”
Last updated on 21 Dec 2009
