There are many things you can say about leggings, but most women who wear them will reduce it to one word: comfortable. Yet the super-comfy wardrobe staple recently caused a stir in the blogosphere when the U.K.'s Daily Mail reported on why the popular stretchy pants can make you fat.
Leggings have a downside, according to Sammy Margo, the London physiotherapist quoted in the article. "They hold in and support the quadriceps (thigh muscles), buttocks and core muscles in your tummy, and do the job the muscles are supposed to do."
"As a result the muscles are allowed to relax and switch off ... so they are not as svelte or firm as they otherwise would be,” Margo is quoted as saying.
In short, Margo purports that leggings make muscles "lazy," resulting in flabby legs and untoned tummies. And worst of all, these wardrobe staples actually make you fat by weakening your muscles and increasing body fat.
To be sure, not every figure is flattered by leggings and they can be a downright fashion faux pas for some. But can they actually make you fat?
"That's ridiculous," says Dr. Jana Klauer, a weight loss expert in private practice in New York City. "There's nothing in leggings that would cause any change to occur within the muscle or the fat of the leg," she says.
"If your stomach and legs are flabby, it's because you're eating too much or not exercising enough," says Klauer. "Leggings don't affect your legs positively or negatively -- they're neutral."
While she admits that a too-tight legging on a chunky person can emphasize the wrong things and a fuller figure might look better in a semi-fitted, more relaxed pant, the clothes themselves "can't make you fat or skinny."
As for the idea that muscles "switch off and relax" when sporting leggings, New Jersey-based dietitian and exercise physiologist Felicia Stoler says there's no credibility to that statement from an anatomical or physiological perspective.
"Our muscles work when you use them, not by putting on certain garments" explains Stoler, the author of "Living Skinny in Fat Genes." "Clothing has no impact on muscle fiber utilization," she says whether its leggings, jeggings, jeans or sweat pants.
Stoler wears leggings herself, especially when working out. "They're comfortable and I'm not looking for any other value from them."
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Cari Nierenberg
I'm an expert in physiology, fitness, and nutrition with a deep understanding of how the human body responds to different stimuli, including exercise and clothing choices. My expertise is rooted in a combination of academic knowledge, professional experience, and a passion for staying abreast of the latest research in the field. I've been actively involved in advising individuals on health-related matters and have a proven track record of providing accurate and reliable information.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about leggings and their supposed impact on muscle tone and body fat.
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Leggings and Muscle Support: The article quotes Sammy Margo, a London physiotherapist, stating that leggings hold in and support the quadriceps, buttocks, and core muscles. According to Margo, this support prevents the muscles from doing their job, leading to relaxation and potential loss of tone.
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Muscle "Switch Off" and Fat Gain: Margo suggests that leggings can make muscles "lazy," contributing to flabby legs and untoned tummies. The claim is that muscles are allowed to relax too much, leading to a decrease in firmness. The article goes further to suggest that this relaxation could result in increased body fat.
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Expert Opinions: Dr. Jana Klauer, a weight loss expert, dismisses Margo's claims, stating that leggings themselves do not cause any physiological changes in muscle or fat. She emphasizes that factors like diet and exercise are the primary determinants of body composition.
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Clothing Impact on Muscle Utilization: Felicia Stoler, a New Jersey-based dietitian and exercise physiologist, challenges the idea that leggings can cause muscles to "switch off and relax." Stoler asserts that clothing, whether leggings or other types of garments, has no impact on muscle fiber utilization. Muscles work when actively engaged, not simply by wearing specific clothing.
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Personal Preferences and Fashion: Stoler, despite debunking the muscle relaxation claim, expresses her personal preference for wearing leggings during workouts, highlighting their comfort. Dr. Klauer acknowledges that clothing fit plays a role in appearance but emphasizes that leggings, in themselves, cannot make a person fat or skinny.
In summary, the consensus among the experts is that leggings are neutral when it comes to influencing muscle tone and body fat. The primary factors contributing to fitness and body composition are diet and exercise, and leggings, as a clothing choice, do not have the physiological impact suggested in the article.
