Body shapers can be harmful to your health

I had a meeting with a friend the other day and I almost did not recognise her.

She looked fuller at the hips, bustier and her waist line could not have been anything more than 15 inches.

Now I know you may be wondering why I am making all this fuss but had you seen her a day before, you too would have been equally shocked.

When we sat down to have coffee, she kept fidgeting on her seat, placing her hand on the chest and constantly taking in deep breaths.

It took her almost two hours to finish her medium cup of café latté — and it was easy to see that she was uncomfortable.

After much probing, she confessed to wearing a body shaper. She had worn it the whole day at work.

Body shapers are a perfect solution for wearing a fitting dress without worrying about bulges, or for acquiring that smooth hourglass figure for a different look. They squeeze the body, so if their sizing is incorrect, the pressure points will land in the wrong places making it impossible for the garment to do its job, leaving one breathless and uncomfortable.

If they are not tight, body shapers cannot give the desired results. Unfortunately, if they are too tight, they squeeze the body and exert pressure on the nerves and internal organs which could leave one’s stomach, intestine and colon compressed.

They can also restrict blood flow from the pelvic area to the heart and lungs and generally interfere with blood flow which can lead to formation of clots that can easily travel to the lungs, heart and even brain.

The tighter the body shaper is, or the more uncomfortable it makes one feel, the more damage it causes.

A body shaper can can press the stomach and make digestive acid move up into the esophagus and cause reflux and heartburn.

The ones that are worn around the waist line press on the diaphragm and restrict normal breathing.

Other types press the abdomen and put pressure on the bladder, potentially lowering it, and this could result in stress incontinence issue  or leakage.

Sitting in a body shaper, or shape wear can lead to a reversible condition called meralgia paresthetica, which occurs when a nerve in the thigh is compressed. This leads to tingling, numbness and pain in the legs, all of which can either be constant or come and disappear. These magical garments are made of air and watertight materials, meaning they can trap moisture and anything else under them, and that predisposes the wearers to both yeast and bacterial infections. This risk is higher in overweight individuals, diabetics and those who sweat excessively.

Women also run the risk of worsening of varicose veins, which could happen if someone wears thigh shape wear that is so tight that blood cannot circulate as easily.

It is okay to wear body shapers on special occasions so long as one limits the time in them. They should not be a part of daily wear. They are not therapeutically designed but cosmetically designed. So do not be fooled into thinking that a body shaper will melt your body fats or make you lose weight.

Just remember that what may seem like harmless fashion could be hazardous to your health.

The writer is a Nutritionist and Wellness Consultant at Afya Bora Nutrition & Wellness Centre. 5th Ngong Avenue. 5th Avenue Office Suites. Suite 16. Nairobi..