Tanorexia is the tanning dependence. It is a syndrome related to a physical or psychological dependence on sunbathing or using ultraviolet tanning beds.
Thanks to the iToBoS project, the University of Trieste, investigated the tanning habits of the inhabitants of Trieste through an anonymous online survey of 520 randomly recruited adults living in Trieste.
Tanning dependence was assessed using the mCAGE (modified Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) and the mDSM-IV-TR (modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision) questionnaires. Sun tanning dependence seems to be a consequence of prolonged sun exposure, possibly for the generation of endogenous endorphins following exposure to sunlight that could reinforce tanning behavior and explain the addictive nature of tanning under some circumstances.
The data collected from this study showed a gender trend of tanorexia and has been submitted to a scientific journal for publication.