Shapewear, the modern day corset that gives women a fit and slim appearance, may be a temporary solution to tucking in unwanted bulges and rolls. But some health experts say the popular body slimmers are slowly taking its toll on women's bodies.
The Huffington Post spoke to several doctors on Monday who opened up about the widely unknown consequences of using shapewear.
"Everyone I know owns shapewear- it's kind of a miracle," Dr. Karen Erickson, a chiropractor, told the Huffington Post. "But I think we want to be mindful to not wear it on a day-in and day-out basis."
The extremely tight shapewear is particular harmful to the stomach, intestine and colon- the organs of the digestive track- gastroenterologist Dr. John Kuemmerle told the Huffington Post. This can lead to bloating and gas because the intestines are unable to shrink and move food along. The normal passage of digestion is restricted.
"It's like when people eat a huge meal and then unbuckle their jeans," Dr. Kuemmerle said.
Dr. Erickson also warned against shapewear's effects on how often someone goes to the bathroom.
"You've got all of this pressure on your bladder from the shapewear pressing down," Dr. Erickson told the Huffington Post. "If you postpone urinating, it can cause stress incontinence, where you leak, or it can exaggerate stress incontinence with people who already have it."
While the doctors say these effects are not permanent, they can lead to symptoms that feel unchanging and more serious medical conditions. One example is a disorder called meralgia paresthetica, which is caused when shapewear restricts the thigh's outer nerve.
"Its like putting these giant rubber bands around your upper thighs and tightening them when you sit," Dr. Erikson told the Huffington Post.
The condition causes the legs to tingle and feel numb, which can start to feel unrelenting after a while. Doctors say another condition linked to shapewear is folliculitis, an infection caused when bacteria that gets trapped in hair follicles between the skin and the shapewear. The resulting bumps, red and filled with puss, are treatable, doctors told the Huffington Post.
"But recurrent infections may develop antibiotic resistance, meaning they get harder and harder to treat," Dr. Maryann Mikhail, a dermatologist, told the Huffington Post.
Dr. Erickson stressed that shapewear has no medical benefits, such as a substitution for a back brace, as some people believe, the Huffington Post reported.
"Shapewear's a little different in that it's not therapeutically designed," Dr. Erickson told the Huffington Post. "It's cosmetically designed."
Read more about shapewear and how to prevent the health effects here.
