To pass the time at the gym, many will clap on some headphones and rock out to some motivating tunes. Others will watch television, and most gyms are equipped with multiple screens for their guests to watch movies, music videos or other shows. A gym chain headquartered in Minnesota with locations across the country has banned cable news from being shown in their facilities because of concern that these news broadcasts are unhealthy. The Life Time Fitness chain will no longer air programming from CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNBC from the large televisions that are all over their workout areas.
The move was in response to complaints from members that cited the negative news broadcasts, including politically charged debates, angry interviews and a barrage of negative and sometimes violent news stories. When working out, "if it bleeds, it leads" is not conducive to a healthy mindset. There's some science to back it up at as well. Negative or scary news triggers the limbic system to release levels of cortisol. Cortisol impacts the immune system as well as cause stress levels to skyrocket, all of which is counter to the goal of going to the gym.
