Leggings: Are They Making You Fat?

Today in studies we just printed out and framed: leggings can/ALMOST, PROBABLY DEFINITELY KIND OF WILL make you fat.

The Daily Mail spoke to physiotherapist Sammy Margo who explained that everyone's preferred stretchy pants "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 when we reveal our bodies for the first time as summer approaches, they are not as svelte or firm as they otherwise would be."

Margo added: "Leggings hide the bits of our bodies we don't like, such as the cellulite on our legs or our 'muffin top,' so we are able to ignore the problem and we are less motivated to exercise these parts."

This is science, people, science! The Mail goes on to name celebrity "advocates" of leggings, like Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and even Michelle Obama. I, too, must confess that I've worn leggings once. And afterward, I felt super-pudgy. But it's probably because I wore my leggings to have breakfast at Denny's.

What do you think?

Quick Poll

Do you think leggings make people fat?

YES! I've totally noticed.

NO! But this is utterly hilarious.

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[Dana Nicole]

10:23 AM on 05/04/2011

Leggings make you fat. That is hilarious. So what are they supposed to wear now?!

[stephhm]

11:46 PM on 05/03/2011

Awesome! Check out the hilarious take on the fatty leggings phenom on this blog: http://www.readersdigested.com

[llllacey]

11:20 PM on 05/03/2011

Don't you just love finding inanimate household objects to blame things on?

[callarox]

07:54 PM on 05/03/2011

I think this article is funny, especially since I really dislike leggings and never understand why women choose to wear them as a substitute for pants. Leggings are really only acceptable attire in yoga or Pilates when they don't become sheer when you bend over or stretch.

However, I don't think that they make women fat. If its the 'hold and support' properties of leggings make you fat, why wouldn't tights or nylons make you fat? As a professional dancer, I find that most tights and fishnets hold and support; based on that, wouldn't all of us dancers be fat too?

[TheAntiOkie]

06:31 PM on 05/03/2011

Here, I thought leggings' main purpose in life was to layer under a pair of jeans in the winter when it's brrrrrrrrrrrrrr cold outside and you want to keep the thermostat a few degrees lower to save money on your utility bills.

Who knew?

[sillyblueness]

03:05 PM on 05/03/2011

Clothes that are baggy or shapeless can allow you to hide your figure. While that may not make you fat, if you are making an effort to lose weight, you will not notice the weight loss hiding under bulky clothes. Figure flattering clothes allow you to see your progress and encourage you to stay on target. To me that makes sense...singling out leggings as a cause of weight gain seems far-fetched.

[MattAko]

01:39 PM on 05/03/2011

It's not the leggings, you ARE fat!

[Jazmo]

01:33 PM on 05/03/2011

Yes, that's why my core is weak and stomach floofy. Because I wear leggings. Yeah, that's it.

I apparently am buying the wrong sort of leggings. What they are describing sounds more like spanx.

[DrSnuggles]

10:41 AM on 05/03/2011

Kind of off-topic - but in my experience there are two distinct types of women in this world; those who feel that leggings are appropriate to wear out and those who don't.

I won't go into my conclusions on their different psychological states (and believe me I've come to a few) but neither group is defined by physical differences, including weight.

[Jazmo]

01:34 PM on 05/03/2011

Boy is that true.

[Porche Gourdine]

10:09 AM on 05/03/2011

While leggings do offer some support and hold you in, they don't "make" a person fat. Not watching your diet and not exercising does. Some people may get lazy and use leggings as a way to hide imperfections, instead of working out. However, they could only do so much supporting before they start enhancing perfections. I'm not into the leggings thing unless I'm working out, or wearing a long top or short skirt.

[millebocca]

08:35 AM on 05/03/2011

leggings, i would concur, are the natural casing of american women. in my corner of the world, most women who wear these are already either overflowing the edges of their elasticized confines or suffering from a general jiffy pop effect everywhere else. these beauties make an even bolder show of it by wearing too short tops. TMI!
all i see around me anyway are sweats and other, assorted stretchy things - as if it's chic to look like you've just left your tennis lesson or yoga class - you know, a few years ago it was purple velour sets....

[pcplz]

03:32 PM on 05/03/2011

Sausages also have 'casings'....

[inkhosi]

02:01 AM on 05/03/2011

They're sexy.

[suzjazz]

12:59 AM on 05/03/2011

Science, eh?
What about ballet dancers' tights?
Or the tight leggings that skiers and other athletes wear? Speaking of which, what are we supposed to wear to the gym?
I think this is Fox News "science."
I would need more than a pair of leggings to hold in my abdomen--I don't know about you.

[happycat]

08:41 PM on 05/02/2011

In old Happy's opinion, leggings and other elastic waisted pants, should only be worn at the Olive Garden for the unlimited bread sticks and salad and at the Old Country Buffet.

[kolson780]

08:24 PM on 05/02/2011

I don't care what anyone says...leggings ARE NOT PANTS. I am sick of seeing women, regardless of their shape, wearing leggings as pants. They are to be worn under skirts, dresses or long shirts. I do not want to see your underwear through a worn out pair of leggings. I do not want to see what you are trying to hide (or show). Stop the madness!!!!!

[happycat]

08:41 PM on 05/02/2011

Co-signed!!!!!!! We must spread the word. Stop the madness!!!

[oliv0128]

09:28 PM on 05/02/2011

Word.