Your gym gear could be making you GAIN weight: Some trendy workout brands contain harmful chemicals - here's what to wear instead
- Clothing made from plastic may negatively impact the body's metabolic rate
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Treating yourself to new workout clothes can be the perfect incentive to get back in the gym and shed those extra few pounds - but experts have warned that gym wear can include dangerous chemicals that might lead to weight gain.
Clothes typically worn for exercise, from spandex crop tops to polyester leggings and nylon running jackets, often contain fibres known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can interfere with the body's natural hormones.
The materials are frequently treated with known EDCs to increase their flexibility and moisturiser resistance, including chemicals such as BPAs, phthalates and bisphenols.
Studies suggest that EDCs mimic and interfere with the body's hormone balance, which, in turn, can negatively impact the body's metabolic rate.
While there are various EDC sources, wearing them during a workout is potentially of additional danger. A recent study from the University of Birmingham found that sweating may increase the body's absorption of toxic chemicals through clothing.
And workout clothes made of plastic and treated with EDCs may be abundant on the high street.
For instance, Centre for Environmental Health, an American non-profit striving to protect people from toxic chemicals, found countless popular brands, including celebrity-loved Alo, New Balance and Patagonia, sold items with high levels of BPA in 2022.
The findings may raise alarm bells, given the numerous studies that point to a correlation between plastic exposure and metabolic changes.
You wear them to get in shape, but some workout clothes may have the opposite effect. Pictured: Alo's leggings
Worried about EDCs? Opt for natural fibres like cotton. Here are the seven best workout essentials to shop now...
Pangaia's leggings, made with 67 per cent cotton, might be a safer choice.
Organic Basics' classic grey track jacket is also on sale down from £83.
Reebok's dotty sports bra comes in two different shades and is made from cotton.
The luxe jogging bottoms feature an elasticated waistband with tie fastening.
Among them is Raffaele Marfella, professor of internal medicine and microplastics at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples, who explored the impact of plastic exposure on mice.
He told the BBC: 'We don't yet have a definitive threshold for toxicity, but we are starting to see patterns.'
'For example, preliminary data from animal models suggests that chronic exposure to 10-100 micrograms of microplastics per kilogram of body weight per day can induce measurable inflammatory and metabolic changes.'
Meanwhile, a review by Frontiers in Endocrinology examined the consequences of human exposure to microplastics, suggesting that a global rise in plastic production may be linked to increasing obesity rates, indicating a potential environmental connection.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the brands mentioned for comment.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Steve Bennett, founder of wellness app Clubwell, said: 'Most people focus on what they eat when thinking about hormonal health, but what you wear matters too.
'Synthetic fabrics, the polyesters, nylons and acrylics that dominate modern wardrobes, contain chemicals that can interfere with your endocrine system, the very system responsible for regulating hormones including insulin, cortisol and oestrogen.
'Synthetic fabrics are petroleum-based products treated with a cocktail of chemical finishes during manufacturing.
'These include phthalates, BPA, formaldehyde and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), many of which are classified as endocrine disruptors.
'Your skin is your largest organ and absorbs substances directly into your bloodstream. When you sweat, which opens pores and increases absorption, these chemicals can enter your body more readily.
'Research published in Environment International has shown that endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in textiles can interfere with thyroid function, reproductive hormones and insulin signalling.
'For anyone already dealing with insulin resistance, which affects over 90 per cent of adults to some degree, adding another source of hormonal disruption is the last thing your body needs.
'Polyester clothing has also been shown to harbour more bacteria than natural fibres, contributing to skin irritation and chronic low-grade inflammation, another driver of metabolic dysfunction.'
Bennett explained the practical steps to reduce plastic exposure during workouts. He said: 'You don't need to overhaul your entire wardrobe overnight.
'Start with the items closest to your skin for the longest periods: underwear, sleepwear and base layers.
'These are where chemical exposure is highest. Switching these to bamboo or organic cotton makes a measurable difference.
'Bamboo fabric stands out as a practical alternative. It is naturally hypoallergenic, free from the chemical treatments that synthetic fabrics require, and has inherent antibacterial properties that reduce the bacterial load on your skin.
'It is breathable, moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating, which means less sweating and therefore less chemical absorption for those still transitioning away from synthetics.
'From a sustainability perspective, bamboo grows rapidly without pesticides or fertilisers, making it a cleaner crop from field to fabric.'
