Get that slim waist, hourglass figure
IN the search for a slim waist and hourglass figure, women and surprisingly men, too, have revived an old custom that has been around for centuries — corset wearing.
It is the ever-growing trend of waist training by corset training, tight-lacing or abdominal binding. It has been popularised and used by celebrities who have sworn by its use and posted many images on their Instagram touting its success.
According to internist Dr Jomo James, the concept of waist training is to alter/modify one’s torso between the breast and the waist into a desired slimmer shape by continually confining and compressing it into a tight space by use of a corset.
“This is worn for hours in a given day for a prolonged period of time. Over time the torso assumes the shape it is confined into which exaggerates the breast and the butt. Waist training is a cheap and easy fix of body alteration compared to other extreme measures such as liposuction, implants and tummy tucks, which involve surgery. It often does not lead to weight loss but a shifting around of body fat. In order to achieve both many women have combined it with diet and exercise,” Dr James said.
He added that despite its upward trend, there are some pertinent facts that women should know before embarking on what must be an uncomfortable practice.
1. According to Dr James, the latex corset material is tightly woven around the chest and as such it causes excessive heat, perspiration and moisture.
“Although this can be relieved by undergarments and corset liners, moistened skin can lead to fungal skin infections,” he said.
2. “Wearing the corset hours and days on end constricts chest movements and by extension the lungs also have restricted movement,” he said.
Dr James added that this has the potential of causing lung collapse, mucus plugging and lung infection, particularly to those who are vulnerable. “This shallow breathing has been known to cause fainting spells.”
3. Dr James said the waist trainers can also cause rib and skin bruising.
4. The internist pointed out that the internal organs of the abdomen are also confined and shifted around in long-term corset wearers, which is not healthy.
“There is a tendency as well for these organs to assume an elongated shape. The increase in abdominal pressure can worsen pre-existing conditions like haemorrhoids or piles and vaginal prolapse,” Dr James said.
5. Dr James said the corsets may also result in damaged nerves from constriction in the groin which causes a condition called meralgia paresthetica. This is painful burning and tingling of the thigh.
6. “Waist training is not permanent, it’s essentially compressing the stomach and putting the fat elsewhere. There is no evidence it causes weight loss on its own,” Dr James said. He added that to maintain the hourglass figure you have to wear it for an extensive period. “After disuse the body will return to its usual shape,” he said.
–KIMBERLEY HIBBERT
