Wouldn't it be nice if our bodies could be moulded into different shapes as we wish? Cut off a few inches here and put it there. Push this a little upwards, pull that a little downwards.
If it were that simple, we would all be walking around with perfect bodies. Unfortunately, the perfect shape can only be obtained through good food and exercise. But why are some companies telling us otherwise?
The surge in popularity of the "firming" bodysuit is witnessing a renaissance, with many brands now advertising on TV and in magazines.
Methods of convincing consumers vary, but the underlying message is the same _ you can lose weight simply by wearing this tight bodysuit.
It is like a modern-day version of the Victorian-era corset that kept women's waists tiny and pushed any excessive flesh up to the chest to achieve an hourglass figure. But today, instead of ordinary fabrics, fancy-sounding technologies and materials are added to lure consumers into thinking that these super-tight bodysuits will work miracles and melt fat.
Interestingly, most commercials give examples of women who've been successful using these firming suits to lose weight. Most of them have the same story _ "I was huge after I gave birth to my baby, and within months of wearing this, I shrank back to my normal size!"
For non-mothers, this might come across as some kind of miracle. But most mothers know that most extra weight from pregnancy naturally goes away on its own, with or without wearing a bodysuit. Therefore, it is not really legitimate to use new mothers as examples.
Dr Varaphon Vongthavaravat from Bumrungrad Hospital said that this kind of bodysuit is not scientifically proven to deliver the advertised effects on the body, and the claims sound too fantastic to be true.
"As far as I know, these bodysuits are extremely tight, making it difficult to eat due to the uncomfortable feeling. I don't think these bodysuits have any special mechanism that will burn fat or increase the metabolism," he said.
He also warned that although their benefits are still unclear, the dangers are more apparent. First of all, any tight-fitting garment will obstruct healthy blood flow, causing dizziness. Strong pressure on the torso is also very risky, as internal organs might suffer.
"The stomach area has a rich blood supply and is home to many vital arteries. Obstruction in this area caused by an overly tight belt or clothes can interfere with internal organ function. Keeping the internal organs cramped in a small space is unnatural and they won't function well," said Dr Varaphon, adding that overly tight clothing around the abdomen can also increase reflux.
However, tight bodysuits may help the you appear slimmer temporarily. Basically, it restricts the covered area, but depending on the shape or length of the garment, excessive flesh will spill out _ similar to the "muffin top" effect of wearing jeans with a tight waist.
Dr Varaphon recommended that when it comes to improving one's shape, nothing works better than exercise and limiting food intake. Tools such as bodysuits may help temporarily, but they are not necessary. If you really want to wear one, make sure you wear the right size, not one that's too small.
"You have to think that when you put it on, you are standing upright, but throughout the day you have to sit, bend or squat down. Sit down and see how your shirt or trousers will expand around the waist. In those positions, pressure is increased. It can do more harm than good if you wear the wrong size."
While bodysuit wearers on TV ads say they lost a lot of weight easily, some real-life users have a different experience.
"Sirirat" spent almost 4,000 baht on a top-quality bodysuit in the hope she would lose weight quickly, like those on TV. After just a few days, she noticed red, itchy rashes on her skin due to poor ventilation and trapped sweat.
"It was very painful and uncomfortable, but I continued wearing it for five days a week for a few weeks. I noticed that I could eat less, and I did manage to lose a little weight" she said.
"I felt tired and hungry all the time, and sometimes I went numb. It was so uncomfortable and I felt dizzy all the time, so I stopped using it. Now I only use it when I have to wear tight clothes because it does improve my appearance temporarily."
Dr Varaphon added that sometimes advertisements and commercials can exaggerate the results of their products to lure money out of consumers' pockets.
"Before you believe what they say, consider if they base their claims on scientific research and can provide statistics on success. A credible claim should be explainable and properly researched, otherwise it is just an empty promise."