According to the World Health Organisation, 40 per cent of the women and 25 per cent of the men in the UAE are overweight. Exercise and a proper diet are two of the simplest ways recommended by many experts to lose weight or get fit. However, some Gulf News readers complained about how they were forced to quit a gym due to the bad etiquette of its members.
Caroline Tapken, a British national, was one of them.
She told Gulf News: “I joined a gym in Dubai, and every time I walked in I was greeted by the overpowering smell of body odour and grunting weightlifters. It was almost unbearable and the machines were invariably dripping in sweat. I tried on several occasions, but then finally gave up. The washing of gym attire after every use should be common sense, but from the smell, I fear it isn’t.”
Tapken was informed by the receptionist that the situation was always like that and air fresheners didn’t work.
Tapken said: “Personal hygiene is too sensitive a topic for them to address without offending members. Her advice was to come during the morning, which unfortunately isn’t possible for me. There should be a rule about wiping down the machines after you’re done using them. Trainers should be able to discuss such matters with members, for the good of everyone. I won’t be renewing my membership.”
Rea Ladores posted a comment on the official Gulf News Facebook page in agreement. She wrote: “The smell is terrible! Proper hygiene should be observed. People need to shower and not be afraid to use deodorant.”
Wi Amir posted: “In a gym the problem is that some people stink. I know that during exercise you will sweat but that smell is unacceptable. Machines are full of sweat, which is disgusting. On a running track, the problem is that some people sit nearby on benches and stare at you when you jog by.”
Apart from bad hygiene, some people have had issues with some members’ bad behaviour.
Fauzia Yaqoob, a Dubai resident, had a bad experience that forced her to quit.
She said: “Many a times when I would go to a gym in the Mirdif area, in Dubai, I would see a group of women who always wanted to work out together. If, for example, two of them were using treadmills, and I started using the one in between them, they would glare at me rudely. They would always have loud conversations and laugh, and even though that’s acceptable in a social setting, it’s very distracting at a gym.
“They would also save or hold machines for their friends. If a friend of their’s was late, they would keep their belongings on a machine and say ‘it’s reserved’. This behaviour was unacceptable and that’s when I left the gym and haven’t gone back since.”
Markus Setz had a similar experience.
He posted: “Hardly anyone uses a towel, but almost everyone uses a mobile phone. People answer phone calls and have long and loud conversations while they are on the treadmill. All the other people in the gym can hear every word. It’s distracting.”
Dr Maneesha Phadke, a doctor based in Dubai, shared her bad experience of how she was forced to leave her gym.
She said: “We as a family — my husband, children and I — were members of a gym in Dubai Silicon Oasis for two years. It’s a family gym and many families and couples visit together. But, lately a few young men had started coming and they were very dominating. They were loud, and it was distracting.
“On one instance, I was doing stomach crunches and one of them asked me to move. I informed him that I would be done in five minutes. He lost his temper, picked up some dumbbells and dropped them right next to me and started yelling. As a reflex, I quickly got up and left. I raised my complaint with the management, but they said there was nothing they could do. Since then, I haven’t been going to the gym and have gained weight. My health is being compromised due to some people’s bad attitude.”
