by Kingsley Felix

”Shapewear that reaches up the back  just a little bit, can provide lumbar support and may prevent back injuries.”

When you first consider wearing ‘body magic’ (shapewear) , you might be thinking of benefits such as a smaller waist size, the elimination of unwanted muffin tops, or the evidence of extra weight. These are just a few of the reasons that men and women choose to put on shapewear.

These are some great reasons to purchase and wear shapewear, but did you know that there are some potential health benefits as well? These benefits take you well beyond the initial feelings of “vanity” that make you doubt whether you should indulge in that little splurge. Consider the many reasons that other women (and plenty of men) love their shapewear:

A supportive hug

Some women feel that their shapewear provides comfortable pressure that does more than support their figure. These women have found that the deep pressure provided by the girdle, is similar to the therapy sometimes provided by occupational therapists. In these cases, shapewear provides a naturally comforting sensation, reducing anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. This supportive hug can heal emotions as well as support healing after surgery.

A source of back support

Shapewear that reaches up the back  just a little bit, can provide lumbar support and may prevent back injuries. If you find this a bit hard to believe, consider the posture that you are using right now. An undergarment that encourages good posture has the potential of reducing, not only back injuries, but the following:

• Headaches and migraines
• Back pain due to injuries
• Pain from scoliosis
• Pressure on knees and feet due to poor posture
• Tension in the neck and shoulders

Both men and women wear supportive girdles to provide back support and improve posture as well as creating an attractive physique.

Abdominal support

In much the same way that shapewear provides support to the back, and the many benefits of proper back support, it can also provide support for the abdomen. Sometimes shapewear is recommended to men and women who are recovering from surgery, because of these supportive qualities. This targeted support can also aid proper body maintenance and provide support for the bust.

An effective weight loss aid

The key word here is “aid”. Shapewear shouldn’t be used in place of the diet or exercise that you’ve worked out with your doctor. Having said this, shapewear can help you to control your appetite, reduce your serving size, and serve as a general reminder of weight loss goals. For some individuals, shapewear helps them to picture successful weight loss – increasing their belief in success and strengthening their motivation.

Today, there are many weight loss programs that incorporate the use of shapewear to improve the overall success of other weight loss tools.

Confidence boosting

You can’t deny that when you feel good about yourself, everything else seems to fall into place. If you think that you look good, you are more likely to tackle harder tasks, get the raise you deserve, or approach another person confidently.

Now that you know some of the most common benefits of wearing shapewear, you should feel no qualms in making a small investment in yourself. You might appreciate the emotional and physical health benefits of wearing shapewear, even more than you enjoy your slimmer physique.

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Kingsley Felix is an editor, a social media expert, a Pinterest lover and an Internet enthusiast. When not on the computer, Kingsley is busy with school and other fun stuff.

30 Days 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.