If you've ever surfed channels late at night, chances are you've seen infomercials for ab belts that promise to deliver rock hard abs with little to no effort on the user's part. These products promise to use muscle stimulation to contract your abs while at rest. The manufacturers claim this causes your muscles to become harder and stronger. Before you spend your hard-earned money on what seems to be an appealing product, get the facts on the effectiveness of ab belts and how they are used.
Medical Applications
Medical-grade ab belts are vital pieces of equipment when used in a medical or rehabilitation setting. Physical therapists and doctors often use the same type of technology to contract the muscles of someone who has been physically inactive for long periods of time. The belts, when applied to the arms, legs and torso, contract muscles in order to prevent muscular degeneration as the result of inactivity. While the belts can slow muscular atrophy, they are not considered an effective form of physical activity or strength training.
Exercise Purposes
Unfortunately, the claims that manufacturers like Slendertone or Contour Abs make about their products are unfounded. While the commercials often back their claims with so-called research, the research is typically sponsored by the manufacturer and thus generally unreliable. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission filed law suits against AB Energizer, ABTronic and Fast Abs in 2002, citing the use of false claims in order to sell products. Ab belts simply don't deliver. A slight contraction of the abdominal muscle cannot produce hardened abs and weight loss.
Spot Reduction
One of the biggest holes in ab belt manufacturers' claims is that ab belts can help you lose weight. The users in the commercials are usually thin and muscular to project the idea that an ab belt can be a useful part of an exercise routine. Unfortunately, the belt only targets one area of the body: the abs. Since spot reduction is impossible when it comes to weight loss, the results seen on TV simply cannot be true. Exercising only your abs will not result in overall weight loss.
Alternatives
While the idea of getting strong abs without hard work is certainly tempting, it's also completely false. If you'd like to achieve flatter abs, incorporate a combination of toning exercises, cardiovascular activity and a low-calorie diet. The three components can help you lose weight from your entire body, with flatter abs a byproduct of good health habits. Instead of looking for a quick fix, focus on changes that you can make toward better health, such as getting 30 minutes of aerobic activity per day or eating healthier meals and snacks.
References
- Ball State University; Fitness Expert: Electronic Belts Cannot Product Ripped Abs; Josh Dobs; May 2002
- Columbia University Health Services; Do Those Electronic Muscle Tones do Squat?; June 2002
- Federal Trade Commission; FTC Charges Three Top-selling Electronic Abdominal Exercise Belts with Making False Claims; May 2002
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