Kim Zolciak just posted a photo of herself with an impossibly tiny waist, and her fans are freaking out — but not in a good way.
The reality star posed wearing a waist trainer that gave her Barbie-doll proportions with curvy hips, a miniscule waist and a chest that was nearly popping out of her top.
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Obviously Zolciak thinks she looks pretty hot, but many of her fans begged to differ. The general consensus seemed to be that not only was her unnatural look disturbing, it also sent a negative message to other women.
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Among the 4,300-plus comments on the Facebook post (plus more on Instagram), the majority seemed to be telling the mother of six (including twins!) to ditch the waist trainer and rock her already impressive body au naturel.
But body image and being a role madel aside, is waist training actually as dangerous as some of these commenters are saying? We spoke to Shilpi Agarwal, a Los Angeles-area family medicine physician, for her expert opinion.
“Unfortunately, the safety of a waist trainer is extremely questionable,” Dr. Agarwal said. “If worn too tightly, they can cause skin damage, bruising, pain, difficulty breathing and even internal organ damage because of the increased pressure and restrictive nature of the waist trainers… judging by the proportions of the rest of her body, she is likely to be putting a lot of pressure and strain on her muscles and organs and restricting her breathing.
“The most serious consequences are organ damage and lung/breathing difficulties. When the lungs are unable to fully expand, individuals can feel short of breath, headaches and even lightheaded,” she said. “Some women report feeling a sensation of fainting when wearing the waist trainer. Pain, bruising and muscle damage are also common. I recommend women consider other less restrictive shape wear. They can still achieve a smoother silhouette and attractive waistline without possibly causing long-term health problems.”
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And as it turns out, a corset doesn’t work for actual weight loss. “The corset/waist trainer (depending on the material it is made of) can sometimes increase sweating around the abdomen, which may lead to some water weight loss, but it does not help with fat loss,” Dr. Agarwal explained. “Additionally, the tight fit may also make eating larger meals uncomfortable, leading to reduced food intake. If any weight is lost, it is not likely to be long-term or healthy.”
Dr. Agarwal is also concerned that the reality star could influence other women to use the dangerous contraption. “Many women look to her as a body role model, especially after having six children,” she said. “Unfortunately, both Kim Z. and Khloé are promoting a product/item that can have dangerous health consequences. It is also important to remember that she may be wearing it for a few hours a day, but fans might wear it all day, even during sleep, which can have dangerous health outcomes.”
Tell us: What do you think of Kim Zolciak’s waist trainer?
Images: Kim Zolciak/Facebook
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