The Truth About the Corset Diet (2024)

Jessica Alba did it to lose weight post-baby—but should you?

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The Truth About the Corset Diet (1)

What if we told you that you could just put on a piece of clothing and lose weight? Sounds pretty amazing, right? That's the idea behind the "corset diet," which has women wearing corsets for several hours a day to help them slim down. Back in April,Jessica Alba told Net-a-Porter's magazine that she used the diet to lose weight after her two pregnancies—and since then, the number of women trying it has been on the rise, according to a recent Good Morning America report.

What does the diet involve? Here's what Alba said about it:"I wore a double corset day and night for three months," she says. "It was sweaty, but worth it."Glamour Boutique, a company that sells steel-bone corsets designed for weight-loss, recommends that customersbegin with a steel-bone corset that's 4 to 5 inches smaller than your actual waist measurementand start out wearing the corset for three to six hours a day before building up to longer periods. The idea is that wearing the corset—along with maintaining a healthy diet and exercising—can help "train your waist." But does it actually work?

In a word, no, says Keri Peterson, M.D., a physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a medical advisorfor Women's Health. "It's outrageous, and it just absolutely makes no medical sense whatsoever," she says.

Corsets can only make you appear slightly thinner while you're wearing one–they can't physically change your size. And if anyone wearing a corset loses weight, it's not actually because of the corset—it's more likely because the contraptionmakes it so uncomfortable to eat that you automatically consume fewer calories, says Peterson. And sweating while wearing it—which Alba suggested helped her lose weight—only affects your water weight, which won't help you drop pounds long-term.What's more, wearing a corsetcould actually cause you harm in a few ways. They could potentiallycause acid reflux (because of the pressure they put on your stomach) and trouble breathing deeply (because of the pressure they put on your diaphragm and lungs). "If you can't take a deep breath, you can't be aerated efficiently," says Peterson. Not to mention, it would be almost impossible to get in a good workout, given your inability to move or breathe properly.

"If you want to create an hourglass figure, Spanx aresufficient," says Peterson. And if you're looking to drop a few pounds, try one of these healthier weight-loss strategies.

Photo: lynea/Shutterstock.com

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The Truth About the Corset Diet (2)

Robin Hilmantel

Digital Director

Robin Hilmantel is the digital director at Women's Health, where she oversees the editorial strategy for WomensHealthMag.com and its social platforms. She has almost 10 years of experience writing and editing for national publications, and more than 8 years of experience writing and editing health, fitness, and nutrition content specifically. In addition to Women's Health, her work has also appeared in TIME, Food Network Magazine, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine, SELF, Glamour.com and other publications.

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The Truth About the Corset Diet (3)

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The Truth About the Corset Diet (2024)

FAQs

Does slimming corset really works? ›

A waist trainer can work temporarily. Waist trainers can make the waist look slimmer, but do not provide a permanent change or weight loss. Waist trainers are meant to squeeze your midsection and “train” your figure into an hourglass shape. They're basically a corset with a modern twist.

Will a corset help flatten my tummy? ›

Corsets offer great shaping benefits, not only creating a super desirable hourglass figure, but also shaping and smoothing the tummy, boosting the bust and slimming the hips. Most commonly worn as shapewear, corsets can boost your confidence and help you feel great in that dress you've been waiting to wear.

Can a corset slim your waist permanently? ›

Wearing a corset does not lead to a permanent change in your waist—only surgery can do that! However, a daily waist training practice can help you achieve the shape you want in the short term, and give you the tools you need to work towards sustainable long-term change.

Does sleeping with a waist trainer help you lose weight? ›

Many advocates of waist training think sleeping with your waist trainer will increase its effectiveness and help boost your weight-loss results however this is not true or safe. Do not sleep in your waist trainer as this can be harmful to your health.

How many hours a day should you wear a corset to see results? ›

Once you've worked up to it and have a fully seasoned corset, you'll want to wear your waist training corset around 8 to 12 hours a day and regularly to see the best results. You might also notice that your appetite changes a little bit while you waist train, which will contribute to the results you achieve.

How many inches can a corset reduce your waist? ›

The amount of inches you take off will depend on a variety of factors, including the corset style and your build, but is generally between 3 and 5 inches (precise details are included for by corset style).

Will waist trainer get rid of pooch? ›

A waist trainer can produce a temporary reduction in waist size or circumference, and a person will typically see immediate results. However, as soon as they take off the waist trainer, their waist will no longer look smaller. Also, waist trainers do not reduce a person's body fat.

How long does it take for a corset to change your body shape? ›

Generally speaking, if someone wears their corset every day for 8-12 hours and laces it in correctly each time, they may begin to notice a difference within 6 weeks of daily wear. However, some individuals have reported visible changes much earlier than this.

What will happen if you wear a corset every day? ›

your core muscles can weaken a bit if you wear it every day. if you tight-lace a corset your internal organs shift a bit to accommodate the squeezing, which for some people causes diarrhea or constipation. some people lose some weight, as it's harder to overeat.

Can a corset get rid of love handles? ›

Can a waist trainer conceal love handles? Absolutely it can, in an instant. But can it help you eliminate them for good? You can use a waist trainer as part of an overall lifestyle regimen, including exercise and healthy eating, to target love handles, but there are many factors that will be at play.

Where does the fat go when corset training? ›

Scientists think that the fat in the waist region is converted to carbon dioxide and respired out during corset training. More so, when you compress the fats, your body responds by sweating, metabolizing your fats into carbon dioxide. You literally breathe the carbon dioxide out normally.

Can just wearing a waist trainer flatten your stomach? ›

They're those corset-like garments that supposedly give you an hourglass shape over time. While they may be trendy, they're not likely to help you lose much weight around your middle. In fact, they can be dangerous and may be risky to your health.

Do corsets reduce appetite? ›

While waist training does not cause weight loss and it can't target belly fat, many people find that they don't overeat at meal time while they are comfortably laced in. If you struggle with eating sensible portions, you might like the feeling of being corseted while eating!

What happens if I wear a waist trainer every day? ›

Back pain: Prolonged use of waist trainers reduces the movement and activity of both abdominal and back muscles, weakening them. Normally when sitting, your back and abdominal muscles help you maintain posture. But when wearing a corset, your posture is supported by the corset, thereby decreasing the use of muscles.

Can I lose weight by wearing a corset? ›

sorry, no. Waist training with a corset doesn't magically melt body fat, but it can make some big changes to your body! Fat loss is achieved when you use more calories than you bring in to your body - through a combination of diet and exercise. Corsets don't target fat loss, as much as we may like.

Does a corset make you look skinnier? ›

The purpose of a corset is to create an instant hourglass figure and not necessarily to slim down the body. Although some people may find their waistline appearing smaller when wearing a corset due to its ability to hold everything in place, this effect will likely be temporary and not long-lasting.

How long does it take for a corset to make your waist smaller? ›

How long does it take for a corset to make your waist smaller? Waist training typically requires 8 weeks to 6 months of consistent wear to produce noticeable results. It is important to be patient and not expect immediate changes.

Does a tummy trimmer reduce belly fat? ›

Tummy Trimmer burns the fat around your midsection and keeps your original weight in check; giving your body a better look. This easy to use exercise tool reduces your belly fat, helps in flattening the stomach, slimming and also improves your posture.

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