Almost 40 per cent of health club users think that selfies should be banned in gyms, according to new research which reopens the debate surrounding photos and fitness.

The latest research from fitness giant Les Mills found that while one quarter of gym users take in-club selfies, 39 per cent would like to see them banned.

Fitness selfies – sometimes referred to as ‘fitspiration’ – have become a significant fixture on the social media landscape, accounting for a sizeable chunk of the 17 million selfies uploaded to social media websites each week.

Despite their popularity among sought-after youth demographics – and the fact that selfies often amount to free marketing for businesses – selfies and gyms have not always enjoyed a picture-perfect relationship.

In Sweden, gym chain Friskis & Svettis announced last year that it was banning selfies from changing rooms, citing concerns that potentially naked fellow members could also be unwittingly snapped in the photos.

Meanwhile, selfies were revealed to be gym goers’ biggest pet peeve in a recent survey, which found 76 per cent of gym users cited selfies as the thing that most annoyed them during a workout.

Elsewhere in the leisure industry, museums, art galleries and theme parks have banned selfie sticks, prompting suggestions that gyms could impart certain restrictions – such as selfie free zones – to ease irritation among camera-shy members.

But despite these setbacks, the selfie continues to go from strength to strength on social media – particularly among young gym users – and several industry leaders believe the phenomenon should be embraced by health clubs.

“We can’t escape the selfie culture and who wants to; they are fun and a great way to share your experiences with your friends and family,” Les Mills UK CEO Martin Franklin told Health Club Management.

“However, there is a time and a place for them. Gym goers need to put in the hard graft and earn their bragging rights to be able to post their selfie with pride.”

For fitness industry consultant Graeme Hinde, there is the temptation to ban mobile phones altogether from gyms, given the tendency of some people to hog machines “while talking like Dom Jolly.” But given the impracticality of such a move, he feels gyms should seek to capitalise on the business opportunities brought by the ubiquitous selfie.

“From a marketing perspective the uploading of selfies to Instagram, Facebook and other platforms can be excellent if the user notes their location,” Hinde told Health Club Management.

“With that in mind I would suggest the creation of 'selfie zones' or fun backdrops that encourage members to take selfies and use certain hashtags that are associated with the club in question.”

According to the Les Mills research, there are five most types of gym selfies:

1. The mirror selfie (I’m proud of working out and not afraid to show it)

2. The ‘here I am’ selfie (because I want to show I go to the gym regularly)3. The acceptable selfie (to monitor profess, stick to my fitness goals and track changing body shape)

4. The abs selfie (does what it says on the tin)5. Sneaky selfie (the ‘I hope no one is looking’ pose)