If you’ve been reading along here at CI for awhile, you know I like to keep an eye on the anti-cellulite knicker situation in the UK.
These undergarments have taken the British cellulite industry by storm in recent months, and I’m curious if all the fuss is warranted.<
What Are Anti-Cellulite Knickers?
The first such knickers I reported on were the Scala Bio-Fir Anti-Cellulite Knickers available at department store John Lewis. They sold out within hours of their release, and soon became the fastest selling undergarment in the store’s 145-year history, appearing on Ebay for $100 a piece.
There are now several different versions of anti-cellulite panties, but all of them involve a concoction of dimple-busting ingredients (such as caffeine or green tea) embedded in the fabric. They are usually “independently tested” at the manufacturer’s expense and claim to reduce the appearance of cellulite for (insert impressive number here) percent of women.
The Plot Thickens
But now the story is heating up as the knicker craze comes under fire from Which?, a consumer watchdog group based in the UK. Every month, Which? conducts extensive tests on hundreds of services and products. They consulted two plastic surgeons and a dermatologist to help examine the claims from the knicker manufacturers in question. Not too surprisingly, they were doubtful of the evidence.
First off, they did not think the “active” ingredients were in sufficient quantities to have an effect on cellulite. Second, they thought any tight undergarment would have the same effect as the anti-cellulite knickers.
But here’s the sneakiest part. According to the British press, a spokesperson for one of the major retailers claims the product is clearly labeled because it is said to “reduce the visible signs of cellulite” instead of diminishing cellulite itself. Which? thinks this is false advertising. What do you think?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I have to say I like those tight undergarment thingies to suck you in….when I have to wear a fitted dress this thing is great…..I wonder if it is mostly american women that have cellulite….that is a dumb question right
SO not a dumb question! That is the million dollar question! Is cellulite a normal part of being a woman or is it something particular to our society that is causing this phenomenon in epic proportions?
Reading through last month's Cellulite Book-of-the Month, the author, Dr. Lionel Bissoon, included photographs of Amazonian women who are all completely cellulite-free. They were shocked when they saw photographs of American women and our dimply thighs. He said women in Bali and other parts of Asia are also cellulite-free, although the wealthier women often develop it. I asked this same question of Dr. Bissoon in the comment section of this post. You can go there so read his reply. Let me know if you have any more cellulite questions and I will ask them to Dr. Bissoon in our upcoming Q&A.; Thanks!
I knew it had to be too good to be true. They'll say anything to get people to buy, and unfortunately WE are all easily impressed when we come across something that claims to fix your problems
Hey, Crystal! I know I come across as cynical of the cellulite knickers (and for good reason, right?), but I do wonder if wearing a compressive garment (one that's not necessarily infused with peaches) would help improve circulation and therefore cellulite.
What got me thinking about it was the comment by Eva on this post at the Obesity Panacea. I really value hearing about real world experiences, even if it's on the individual level, and Eva's experience with anti-cellulite knickers makes me wonder if they aren't a total waste of money.