Shaping underwear, or those popularly known as girdles, are an ally for many people when it comes to putting on certain items of clothing, as they help compress areas of our body, making our figure look slimmer and more stylized. That is why it is common to resort to them for special occasions, there are even those who use them on a daily basis.
Although its effectiveness is undeniable in hiding certain areas of our body that we are not proud of – such as the thighs or tummy –, it is no less true that shaping underwear is not particularly comfortable to wear. To fulfill their mission of making us look thinner, they squeeze our body excessively, reducing our comfort, as well as our freedom of movement. Precisely for this reason, there are certain reasons why they are not recommended after the age of 50 and that you should not overlook.
Girdles exert strong pressure on our body and, if it is too tight, it may hinder blood circulation and also make it difficult to breathe normally. This is especially dangerous in the case of older people with circulatory or respiratory problems, worsening their condition. As a result, the person may feel swollen legs, belly pain, suffocation or dizziness.
This constant pressure on the body generates a greater sensation of heat, which worsens the already unpleasant hot flashes associated with menopause. It will increase sweating and general discomfort, with unnecessary stress and discomfort.
This increase in heat and sweating can lead to skin irritation due to the humidity of sweat and friction, giving rise to rashes and rashes. This will occur especially in older people with skin conditions such as dermatitis.
In the case of shaping underwear or girdles that greatly compress the abdomen and lumbar area, as well as the legs, we could unconsciously fall into a worse posture both when standing, sitting or walking. The direct consequence would be back or leg pain if we do not walk correctly.
Urinary incontinence is a common condition associated with aging. If we add to this the pressure of the girdle or shaping underwear, the bladder will be compressed, increasing our constant need to go to the bathroom. In addition, they are often complex to put on and take off, which could make us postpone going to the bathroom longer than necessary. If we do not release that pressure, we run the risk of leaking urine or a urinary tract infection.
