{"id":4093,"date":"2010-06-24T04:00:51","date_gmt":"2010-06-24T08:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/"},"modified":"2010-06-24T04:00:51","modified_gmt":"2010-06-24T08:00:51","slug":"nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/","title":{"rendered":"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-4098\" href=\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/tanningaddictionnyt\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4098\" title=\"tanningaddictionnyt\" src=\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg\" alt=\"tanningaddictionnyt\" width=\"280\" height=\"147\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning.<\/p>\n<p>What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said.<\/p>\n<p>Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping.<\/li>\n<li>The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma.<\/li>\n<li>American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans.<\/li>\n<li>What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To read Brody\u2019s column <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2010\/06\/22\/health\/22brod.html\" target=\"_blank\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, <a href=\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/?s=addiction&amp;x=0&amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation - Smart Tan News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said. Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet:  Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping. The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma. American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans. What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers. \u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d To read Brody\u2019s column click here. To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, click here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation - Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said. Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet:  Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping. The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma. American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans. What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers. \u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d To read Brody\u2019s column click here. To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, click here.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Smart Tan News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-06-24T08:00:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"smarttan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SmartTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"smarttan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"smarttan\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4191f4b1131c0a37b4fd39f876771e7b\"},\"headline\":\"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-06-24T08:00:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\"},\"wordCount\":498,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\",\"name\":\"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation - Smart Tan News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2010-06-24T08:00:51+00:00\",\"description\":\"New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said. Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet: Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping. The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma. American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans. What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers. \u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d To read Brody\u2019s column click here. To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, click here.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/\",\"name\":\"Smart Tan News\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Smart Tan\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":164,\"caption\":\"Smart Tan\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/SmartTan\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4191f4b1131c0a37b4fd39f876771e7b\",\"name\":\"smarttan\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/60bebff64d4c62315967b9126de927b81d5a9d9511fd52f9dbe9e8b344149182?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/60bebff64d4c62315967b9126de927b81d5a9d9511fd52f9dbe9e8b344149182?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/60bebff64d4c62315967b9126de927b81d5a9d9511fd52f9dbe9e8b344149182?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"smarttan\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/author\/smarttan\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation - Smart Tan News","description":"New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said. Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet:  Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping. The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma. American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans. What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers. \u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d To read Brody\u2019s column click here. To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, click here.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation - Smart Tan News","og_description":"New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said. Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet:  Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping. The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma. American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans. What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers. \u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d To read Brody\u2019s column click here. To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, click here.","og_url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/","og_site_name":"Smart Tan News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","article_published_time":"2010-06-24T08:00:51+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"smarttan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@SmartTan","twitter_site":"@SmartTan","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"smarttan","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/"},"author":{"name":"smarttan","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4191f4b1131c0a37b4fd39f876771e7b"},"headline":"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation","datePublished":"2010-06-24T08:00:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/"},"wordCount":498,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/","name":"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation - Smart Tan News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg","datePublished":"2010-06-24T08:00:51+00:00","description":"New York Times syndicated health columnist Jane Brody penned a column this week suggesting that indoor tanning and suntanning may be addictive \u2014 a scientifically dubious thought being promoted by groups who are lobbying against the indoor tanning market as an attempt to discourage tanning. What was wrong with Brody\u2019s column? \u201cWhile it may be appropriate to objectively ask: \u201cCan tanning be addictive?\u201d it isn\u2019t responsible to have that discussion without ever acknowledging the incredibly obvious: that humans are naturally attracted to sunlight, are intended to be attracted to sunlight but have been counseled by dermatology in the past 15 years to defy that natural attraction,\u201d Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. \u201cBrody\u2019s column failed to put this issue in its proper context. What\u2019s more, she only talked to researchers who have drunk the anti-sun Kool-aid.\u201d Brody\u2019s column suggests that the reason people continue to tan even though dermatologists tell them not to is because tanning may be addictive. \u201cIn fact, Ms. Brody totally ignored what should be the default explanation: People are still tanning because they realize cosmetic dermatologists and chemical sunscreen manufacturers have lied to them, have over-stated the risks associated with overexposure to UV and have denied and ignored the benefits of regular sun exposure,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThis latest attempt to classify a natural and intended attraction to sunlight as an addiction is only making matters worse for the anti-sun groups. Instead of sensiblizing their message, they are doubling-down on their lies.\u201d Our point: Saying that UV exposure can be addictive is like saying that humans are addicted to food and water. \u201cThese aren\u2019t addictions. They are attractions,\u201d Levy said. Brody\u2019s column suggests that an increase in reported skin cancer incidence can be attributed to tanning. Yet: Canadian research this month showed there is not an actual increase in skin cancer incidence. In fact, the numbers are dropping. The British dermatology community published a paper last year showing that there is not an actual increase in melanoma incidence \u2014 merely an increase in the number of skin patches dermatologists now classify as melanoma. American data show that melanoma mortality in women under age 50 has been decreasing for a generation and that the only group seeing a substantial increase is men over age 50 \u2014 not the group that tans. What\u2019s more, other studies show that the only group seeing an increase in melanoma diagnosis are indoor workers. Those who get the most sun exposure are not getting more melanomas. In fact, indoor workers \u2014 who get 3-9 times less UV exposure \u2014 get more melanomas than outdoor workers. \u201cTo examine this issue without examining those points is misleading at worst and fraudulent at best,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe sources in Brody\u2019s column were acting more as political lobbyists than as true scientists.\u201d To read Brody\u2019s column click here. To read Smart Tan\u2019s statement on why tanning should be called an attraction, not an addiction, click here.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/tanningaddictionnyt.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/nyt-columnist-addicted-to-misinformation\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"NYT Columnist Addicted to Misinformation"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/","name":"Smart Tan News","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#organization","name":"Smart Tan","url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/smarttan.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Smart-Tan.png","width":500,"height":164,"caption":"Smart Tan"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SmartTan","https:\/\/x.com\/SmartTan"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/#\/schema\/person\/4191f4b1131c0a37b4fd39f876771e7b","name":"smarttan","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/60bebff64d4c62315967b9126de927b81d5a9d9511fd52f9dbe9e8b344149182?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/60bebff64d4c62315967b9126de927b81d5a9d9511fd52f9dbe9e8b344149182?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/60bebff64d4c62315967b9126de927b81d5a9d9511fd52f9dbe9e8b344149182?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"smarttan"},"url":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/author\/smarttan\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.smarttan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}