Is wearing a corset the secret to weight loss?

Is wearing a corset the secret to weight loss?

Do waist trainers get rid of belly fat?

Will wearing a corset flatten your stomach? These 19th-century-style torture devices are the premise behind "waist training," the latest weight-loss fad in which you lace or velcro yourself into a corset-like garment to "train" your waist to become a trimmer. Kim Kardashian came out as a follower on Instagram, and Jessica Alba credited a corset with helping her lose baby weight. There has also been a rise in real women vouching that waist training for weight loss has given them an hourglass figure. But do waist trainers really lose weight?

Experts weigh in

Curious, we took it to the experts - and it turns out that wearing a corset has nothing to do with losing real weight. It's just the latest gimmick (fat-burning pills, anyone?) that promises to shed pounds effortlessly. At first glance it seems promising. "The corset physically restricts your stomach, and that can make it impossible to eat too much," says New York nutritionist Brittany Kohn, RD. And since it's so tight, you'll sweat like crazy, which can make you feel lighter. “But once the corset is removed, your body will quickly return to its normal weight and shape,” says Kohn. (So, yes, this is just another one of those bizarre health fads.)

The scary part

Like many fat-melting trends, waist training can cause real harm. “The compression makes it difficult to breathe,” says Kohn. “And with so much pressure on the middle, bruising and even organ damage can occur.” Yes, we partly wanted to believe that - wouldn't it be great if there was actually a magical piece of clothing that could eliminate a little bloating? But the simple fact is that the only way to truly lose weight is through diet and exercise. (Try this flat belly workout and 30 Greatest Flat Belly Tips of All Time instead.)