Prolonged use of shapers could carry risks, doctors say

You’ve probably seen the commercials. They promise to shape and slim your waist to get you that hourglass figure – not by dieting or exercise, but by wearing a corset-like shaper a few hours a day. Waist training is making a comeback, with celebrities such as the Kardashian sisters extolling its virtues.

Shapewear – corsets, girdles, fitted camisoles, and other types of compression undergarments that control, hold and smooth certain areas – continues to be popular, with some research firms indicating it’s a $680 million annual market. But women who wear it for too long, or incorrectly, may be putting themselves at risk for several health conditions, like incontinence, pinched nerves, difficulty breathing and more, say doctors.

Ranjini Madhavan, an internal medicine physician with Via Christi Clinic, said she knows in today’s body-conscious society, it’s hard not to want to look good, but as a doctor, she’s seen what shapewear – if worn incorrectly and for long periods of time – and even tight-style clothing can do.

“Personally, I’m not against wearing shapewear if it’s the right size for smoothing,” Madhavan said. “It’s hard to tell women not to look their best for a party. But if you’re wearing it eight hours a day, that’s not good.”

Regarding waist training, Madhavan says, that’s not idea, either. “Trying to achieve these looks (by wearing waist trainers), rather than going to the gym or eating right, is not good for you in the long run and is bound to cause health issues,” she said.

Not only are many women wearing shapewear for long times, but some wear layers or too-small sizes. The fact that celebrities are revealing they do these things isn’t helping, said Madhavan and Melissa Hague, an obstetrician and gynecologist with Heartland Women’s Group in Wichita.

It’s been reported on celebrity websites that Oprah Winfrey has replaced wearing underwear with shapewear daily, while actress Octavia Spencer told reporters and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres that she wore three layers of shapewear to an awards show. She also revealed that the triple-layer of shapewear was uncomfortable. She told DeGeneres on her talk show: “I couldn’t party that night because I was being pinched in places I didn’t know possible,” according to celebrity websites.

Health risks

Women who wear shapewear for too long, or incorrectly, are putting themselves at risk for health conditions, said Madhavan and Hague. Here are some of the conditions that can develop:

▪ Digestion issues. The stomach is the area most women say they want to slim with shapewear, said Kara Smith, manager at Wichita’s Soma, a store that specializes in women’s intimate wear.

But wearing clothing that pushes your internal organs together for prolonged periods can cause a whole host of problems. Acid from the stomach can be forced up into the esophagus, leading to acid reflux and heartburn issues, Madhavan said. Studies have shown that increased acid in the esophagus puts one at higher risk for esophageal cancer.

Sometimes the restriction is so severe, it can lead to vomiting, Madhavan said. Some women also mistakenly wear the compression clothing as a diet plan alternative “since it’s so tight you can’t eat a lot,” Hague said.

▪ Breathing issues. The diaphragm, the main muscle used for breathing, can get compressed when wearing shapewear. “The diaphragm has to be able to move up and down with lung expansion, and if you’re wearing something that prevents that, it can lead to problems,” Madhavan said. If your diaphragm can’t do it’s job, it leads to discomfort when breathing and not enough oxygen getting into your blood.

▪ Bladder issues. Because some women don’t want to struggle with peeling shapewear on and off, they put off going to the bathroom. Not emptying the bladder when needed can cause infections and even incontinence issues, noted Madhavan and Hague. When the bladder is stretched by not emptying it, a woman can develop stress incontinence, or leaking, issues, too.

▪ Nerve damage. Tight clothing in the groin and thigh area can lead to nerve damage. “When you squeeze the thigh for long periods of time, you’re blocking the nerves,” Madhavan said. It’s a condition known as meralgia paresthetica, which causes a tingling and burning sensation in the thighs.

Wear it correctly

Smith, the intimates store manager, said she tries to teach women that layering or wearing smaller sizes is not a good idea.

“I tell them to think of their body as a water balloon. If you squeeze it in the middle, it has to go somewhere else,” Smith said.

The biggest misconception of shapewear is what it can do, Smith said. She reminds customers that shapewear is meant to smooth out lines and bumps and create a more sculpted, smooth look under clothing.

“Women come in thinking they’ll look skinnier and that shapewear will get them there,” Smith said. “I’ve had a lot of women … who are in tears because when they put it on they don’t look skinnier.”

“Some women think they can put on three pieces and take off 5 inches,” she said, of the unrealistic expectation.

Here are her tips on getting the right, healthy fit with shapewear:

▪ Get the right size. Many women either buy too small or too big because they don’t see themselves in their true size, Smith said. If you are a size 12, buy shapewear meant for a size 12. If your shapewear is too small, it will roll up or down, plus it will make you uncomfortable.

▪ Don’t layer. “Don’t wear two of the same thing thinking it’ll shape you twice as much,” Smith said. “All it will do is make you miserable.” It’s OK to wear multiple pieces of shapewear, as long the items don’t overlap, she said.

▪ Don’t overwear it. She advises customers to rest, rotate and retire shapewear, meaning don’t wear a piece continuously or day after day and make sure to get rid of it if it’s become misshapen.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Prolonged use of shapers could carry risks, doctors say."