A permanent cinched look may be too good to be true.
But regardless of the popularity, do waist trainers actually work?
And if they do, are they safe?
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Ahead, their in-depth answers regarding waist trainers and whether they really work.
Meet the Experts
Are Waist Trainers Safe?
A waist traineran elastic compression band worn around the midriffcounts the corset as a distant relative.
Thus, waist trainers aren’t considered safe, and aren’t recommended by experts.
The truth is, this hourglass figure won’t stick around.
Sparks explains, Your spine is made of several units known as vertebrae.
These are individual so that they can help you move in different ranges of motion.
In trying to compensate, you might injure yourself in other areas.
A compressed diaphragm might send a signal to accessory muscles to compensate.
But the opposite is actually true.
But its a passive movement, so youre doing the opposite.It actually turns off the ab muscles.
In a way, youre committing to a fake form of diet.
This isnt a good alternative to eating a healthy diet.
The constriction in the rib cage makes it difficult for anyone using it to breathe properly.
Sparks agrees, explaining that compressing the diaphragm inhibits its function.
The main muscle meant for breathing is your diaphragm, she says.
But for your diaphragm to work properly, your abdomen needs to expand to accommodate its contraction.
Wearing a waist trainer severely, if not completely, disallows this to happen.
Jesse P. Houghton, MD, senior medical director of Gastroenterology at Southern Ohio Medical Center concurs.
Applying unnecessary compression to internal organs might be aggravating, causing them undue stress.
What exactly are the long-term effects of such aforementioned stress?
Houghton says that sadly, we just dont have all the data.
I am not aware of any actual high-quality studies on waist trainers, he says.
In short, compressing the abdominal area is likely not enough to actually fully compress the organs themselves.
This is not to say that the pressure applied to internal organs is without consequence.
The consequences are mostly muscular, however.
In other words: If you don’t use it, you lose it.
Digestive Issues
Long-term use of a waist trainer might lead todigestive issues.
Well flatten the stomach this way, by re-activating the core.
This is where things get really complicated and potentially dangerous.
Theres a lot of things going on in your abdominal cavity postpartum, says Fried.
During pregnancy, organsincluding the bladder, intestines, and stomachcan shift as the uterus expands.
Wearing a waist trainer might aggravate this condition.
Its not going to move any organs, Fried explains, but it can give pressure downward.
She advises postpartum women get checked by their OB/GYN to verify theyre not at risk for developing a prolapse.
Chances of prolapse increase after having a baby and with age.
If you are intent on wearing a waist trainer, get checked and keep getting checked.
Waist Trainers vs. Shapewear
Shapewearis possibly the most modernand most comfortableiteration of the original intentions of corsetry.
Unlike waist trainers, they don’t claim any additional benefits if worn for prolonged periods of time.
For a chiseled midsection,pilates-basedoblique movements like twists or teasers can help create a tighter, trimmer core.
Other exercises that work the obliques include side bends.
This is similar to what happens within the muscles through repeated strength exercises.
In other words, youre getting the contraction without the compression.
The Final Takeaway
The risks of waist trainers far outweigh any possible benefits.
It simply isn’t worth it to risk you health and mobility for a smaller waist.
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.4 reasons to throw your waist trainer in the trash.
Updated March 22, 2016.
