Are Spanx Bad for You?
Sarah Jio,Glamour magazine
You love your Spanx, of course, as do I! But, one health expert is coming forward to point the finger at our favorite slimming undergarment, saying that shapers are bad for our health. Let's discuss.
Should Spanx, and all shapers, be vilified? Well, one health expert in the UK says they should come with a health warning. These form-fitting undergarments, he says, can cause incontinence, heartburn, even panic attacks.
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"Control underwear is the 21st-century version of the corset, with all the same health risks," said Richard Bricknell, director at the Bristol Physiotherapy Clinic in England, in an article in The Daily Mail. The article goes on to say: "The increased pressure on your lower stomach can force acid up to the gullet, leading to heartburn. Over time, this could contribute to inflammation, ulcers and, in extreme cases, oesophageal cancer."
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Hmm. That seems a bit dramatic, no? Spanx causing cancer is a theory I don't buy, but I do see how shapers in general can contribute to unhealthy breathing habits, as it's described here: "By artificially holding in your stomach, control pants prevent your diaphragm from descending fully while breathing, which can lead to hyperventillation, panic attacks and stress incontinence."
The key is maybe don't wear your shapewear everyday, all day. And, for crying out loud, if your Spanx are making you hyperventilate or experience incontinence, get rid of them!
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Am I the only one who finds it a.) annoying that it's a man who is bringing these sorts of "dangerous health warnings" to our attention, and, also b.) wouldn't most women stop wearing their shapewear if they, indeed, caused hyperventilation and bladder leakage? Just sayin'!
Let's discuss!
P.S. This star wore triple Spanx to a recent celeb event. Oh my! And, could shapewear be causing itching and odor ... down there?
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