In theory, do waist trainers work work by cinching in the midsection and pulling in your stomach. This allegedly helps shape your figure into something more like an hourglass, and by doing so it reminds you to engage your core muscles throughout the day.
However, there’s a lot more going on inside your body than just fat and muscle tissue. When waist trainers are worn for extended periods of time, they can smoosh your organs into tight spaces, which can cause discomfort, impede breathing and increase the likelihood of complications.
Debunking the Myth: Do Waist Trainers Really Work?
For example, if you wear a waist trainer for too long, it may shift your floating ribs (or the ribs that aren’t attached to your sternum) and put pressure on your internal organs. This can lead to digestive issues, a decrease in circulation and inflammation of the ribs. It may also aggravate prolapse, a condition where the bladder, uterus or rectum fall down into the abdomen.
In addition, the squeezing effect of waist trainers can make it harder to use your core muscles, which can weaken them over time. Those muscles can also become dependent on the waist trainer for support, making it more difficult to use them without it. Some people say that they see changes in their waistline after wearing a waist trainer for a few weeks, but those results are more likely due to water weight loss and muscle atrophy rather than a change in fat cells. This is because fat cells can’t be redistributed by intense pressure, and they can’t be sweated out either.
