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Corsets have been around for ages. In Victorian times, women would not leave the house without first strapping themselves into one. They were regarded as the ultimate fashion accessory in achieving the perfect hourglass figure. As time progressed, the corset lost its allure as a beauty-enhancement accessory.
But it appears the current generation has brought back this outdated trend, thanks to the famous Kardashian sisters: Kim, Khloé and Kourtney.
The Kardashians flaunt waist trainers, as they refer to the steel-boned corsets, as the secret to their hourglass shapes. They often post pictures of themselves on Twitter wearing waist trainers during gym sessions, claiming that they wear them for hours every day.
Women worldwide have followed suit and some are taking this trend to extremes by wearing corsets for up to 12 hours a day, while others claim to sleep in them.
However, doctors have warned that wearing a corset for long periods could pose serious health risks.
Dr Suzanne Joubert, a private physician based in Johannesburg, explains that when a person is wearing a corset, their diaphragm is pushed up, squeezing their intestines, stomach, liver and kidneys – which may affect the functioning of these vital organs.
She notes that restrictions caused by excessive corset use increase the chance of heartburn, as the stomach moves beyond the diaphragm, causing acid to flow back into the food pipe. Bowel movement is also restricted, resulting in severe constipation.
But those are not the only health hazards.
According to Professor Guy Richards, pulmonologist and head of critical care at the faculty of health sciences at Wits University, waist trainers interfere with the respiratory system too.
“They reduce chest movement and restrict the ability to cough. The risk would be that this might inhibit the normal protective mechanisms limiting chest infections,” says Richards.
Joubert echoes these sentiments. “Wearing corsets for hours daily increases the risk of lung infection, including pneumonia. Lungs help us to breath with ease. When they are compressed, they cannot inflate fully, which may result in their partial collapse, making us more susceptible to infection,” she notes.
This restriction, adds Joubert, also affects the return of blood flow to the heart.
Despite these warnings, users of waist trainers seem unfazed. Zanele Ntanzi (32) from Durban says she would rather suffer for beauty than allow her stomach to balloon.
“I have been waist-training for about two months now and have not experienced any health challenges.
“I understand doctors’ concerns, but I am not going to stop now because the results so far are excellent and I believe that very soon I will achieve my desired waist size,” she explains.
Richards and Joubert say that it is sad that women are prepared to go to such extremes to shape their bodies. They note that there’s no clinical evidence to suggest that corsets help women lose inches around the waist.
Joubert points out that when waist trainers are no longer used, “your body will return to its usual shape”.
Richard adds: “It is a pity that women are going back to Victorian times in the quest for beauty.”
