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Research Mentor Name
Diane Levine, MD
Research Mentor Email Address
dllevine@med.wayne.edu
Institution / Department
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Document Type
Research Abstract
Research Type
publichealth
Level of Research
no
Abstract
The popularity of waist cinchers, shapewear, abdominal binders, corsets, and waist trainers has increased in the population. Although corsets have been part of western fashion since the 18th century, abdominal compressors remain in style even today. In 2018, sales for shapewear worldwide were estimated at 2.26 billion USD. 1 Despite its popularity, shapewear safety and medical effects have not been widely studied.
In 1968, “Pantygirdle Syndrome” was described, attributing vulvitis, urethritis, and urinary tract infections to materials used from the “pantygirdle”. 2 The article describes that the girdle caused gastrointestinal symptoms with diaphragmatic and stomach displacement causing gastro-esophageal reflux disease that resolved with girdle loosening. 3 Physicians related abdominal compression garments to the development of dyspnea, syncope, GERD, esophagitis, colon infarction, leg thrombophlebitis, varicose ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis. 6
Despite commentary, evaluation, and recognition of medical side effects with chronic use of shapewear and abdominal compression garments, there is a paucity of literature that describes who wears shapewear, for which reasons, and associated adverse effects from shapewear use. The purpose of this study is to describe the population of women that choose to wear shapewear and aims to:
- Better understand modern-day usage of modern forms of shapewear
- Assess why women wear shapewear and their shapewear usage habits
- Assess for medical associations and potential complications with acute and or chronic abdominal compression
- Evaluate if certain psychological conditions increase the use of shapewear or other abdominal compressors
Disciplines
Applied Behavior Analysis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Mental and Social Health | Physiological Processes | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Reproductive and Urinary Physiology | Social Psychology
Recommended Citation
Edriss, Sawsan; Azom, Bushra; Edriss, Manar; Edriss, Mustafa; Guertler, Ann-Cathrin; Waineo, Eva MD; and Levine, Diane L. MD, "Chronic Use of Non-Medical Abdominal Compressors: Medical and Psychological Implications" (2021). Medical Student Research Symposium. 68.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/68
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Physiological Processes Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Reproductive and Urinary Physiology Commons, Social Psychology Commons
Comments
Shapewear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By End User, Industry Report, 2019-2025. Grandview Research.
deBuda, Y. THE PANTYGIRDLE SYNDROME AND OTHER COMMON PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE HABITS OF THE MODERN WOMAN’. Can Fam Physician. 1968;14(6):27–28.
White, D. The Tight-Girdle Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine. 1973;288(11):584-584. doi:10.1056/nejm197303152881121
A Doctor’s Advice on Wearing Shapewear. Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-doctors-advice-on-wearing-shapewear/. Published June 6, 2019.
Russell EA, Braverman RM, Vasudevan SA, Patel B. A Traumatic Quinceañera. Pediatric Emergency Care. 2018;Publish Ahead of Print(PMID: 30130339). doi:10.1097/pec.0000000000001563
Schwarz GS. Society, physicians, and the corset. Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. 1979;55(6):551–590. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1807654/.
Almendrala A. The “Corset Diet” Is Not A Diet At All. It’s Just Scary. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/corset-diet-health_n_4082004. Published October 11, 2013.