14 DAY TRIAL // One of the hottest ranges of products now available for cellulite reduction and weight control is making the kind of claims that would run the fitness and diet industry out of business. Control knickers are taking over the stores and women are buying them like crazy because they promise a decrease in cellulite and even sustainable weight loss without as much as lifting a single finger. Whether they really work is an entirely different matter altogether.
Following reports that a product of this kind from Marks & Spencer (£30) was helping women fight cellulite, which instantly translated into an incredible boost in sales, consumer watchdog Which? tested the knickers to see whether the claims held water. They didn’t, not really. Now, the Daily Mail has put most of these products available either online or in brick-and-mortar stores to the test and has reached a similar conclusion: none of these underpants delivers as it says it does.
The biggest rating was achieved by the Lipo Contour Classic Short, which retails for £50 and scored an impressive 4.5 out of 5 in terms of smoothing. On the downside, this incredible result in banishing dimples and the much dreaded orange-peel skin means a decrease in comfort, with the tester describing the pants as almost impossible to wear because of how tight they are. For comfort, the Lipo Contour Short scored a mere 1 out of 5.
The Shatobu High Waist-to-Knee Shaper (£50) also came close in terms of results returned, with a 4 out of 5 rating. Again, this product too is extremely uncomfortable. “Seamless resistance bands are woven into the fabric to make muscles work harder in order to burn more calories. The manufacturer claims scientific studies show that women wearing the shaper burn up to 12 per cent more calories. The tights are said to support, flatten and tone hips, thighs and tummy,” is the claim made by the product.
Female body contouring specialist Angelica Kavouni says, “It is likely that resistance training increases metabolic rate, but I am not convinced this would have any effect on the skin’s appearance.” The Mail’s model believes the knickers work, but are too uncomfortable “These feel very strange. The bands pull as I move, so they might be working,” she explains.
For all the products tested, including rating, pros and cons, please refer here.