The latest must have gym accessory, the waist trainer!

It’s the hourglass shaped trend that is taking Hollywood by storm, with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Christina Milian and Beyonce all reportedly hooked.

What is a waist trainer and how does it work, I hear you ask?

What is a waist trainer?

A waist trainer is a modern version of the corset, a device popular with women during Victorian times.

How does it work?

Waist training involves wearing the ‘trainer’/corset for hours at a time, some wear it to bed or even during a work out to shrink the size of their waist permanently over time.

Does it work?

Celebrities such as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Christina Milian and model Blac Chyna swear by the practice.

Jessica Alba has said she wore a double corset ‘day and night’ for three months, describing it as ‘sweaty but worth it’.

However not everyone is convinced.

Are there any dangers?

It’s been said that there is no pain without gain but is this device taking it too far?

Apart from the possibility of fainting, there are also reports it can bruise and damage your internal organs.

“Medically, it doesn’t make sense that cinching your waist tightly will make it permanently smaller,” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of ob-gyn at Yale School of Medicine.

“Once you take the garment off, your body will return to its usual shape. It’s also uncomfortable, restricts your movements, and if you wear it really tight, it can even make it difficult to breathe and theoretically could cause rib damage.”

Is there a safer alternative?

With waist training being a costly and potentially dangerous exercise, why not try daily bursts of exercise to get that perfect hourglass shape?

Side leg raises, hip raises and squat kicks all build up the muscles around the hips, and sit-ups, planks and skipping will also help to tone your waist.

Would you give waist training a go?

Source: Closer