How dirty is your gym’s equipment?

Really, really dirty. Free weights 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat!?

Um, this gym staple has more bacteria than your toilet seat

"Every time you pick up a weight or grab an exercise bike handle, you could be putting yourself at risk for an illness or infection," states the report. More than 70% of bacteria swabbed in the study is potentially harmful to humans, including gram-positive cocci, which can lead to skin infections, septicemia, and pneumonia.

Ready to really cringe? Free weights are covered in 362 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Exercise bikes and treadmills are not as bad, but they're not far behind. Testing revealed that bikes carry 39 times more bacteria than a reusable cafeteria tray, including bacillus, which can lead to ear, eye, and respiratory infections.

Here is the study, Fit Rated recruited a lab to test the amount of bacteria on fitness equipment  complete with graphics – sample below – with the data.