Worth the Struggle?
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Have you heard or read about the latest fashion-is-bad-for-your-health fiasco? Apparently, skinny jeans are new health hazard – especially if you squat in them.
In case you missed it (and it was really hard to miss it, since it was recently ALL over the news), a 35-year-old skinny jean-wearing woman in Australia was taken to the emergency room and had to have her jeans cut off of her. After helping someone move and squatting for long periods of time while emptying cupboards, she tripped and fell on her walk home, and spent several hours stranded and unable to move. She was finally taken to the ER and put on an intravenous drip. On day four, when she could walk unaided, she was released.
I can’t help but wonder what she wore for the ride home.
Are all of us skinny jean lovers in danger? Is our love affair with our skinny jeans over?
Thank goodness cool heads prevail. Gary Switzer, publisher of the website HealthNewsReview.org, sets the record straight. His website investigates daily health news and puts all the stories circulating out there into proper perspective. Yes, the media can sometimes go to great lengths to nab the public’s attention – and with this skinny jean story, they probably sent millions of women into a fashion frenzy.
Switzer writes: “A single case study of one woman’s problems from wearing skinny jeans drew global news attention.”
Yes…that’s right. ONE study fanned the flames of hysteria. ONE story screaming internationally, with headlines like:
“Skinny Jeans Hospitalize ‘Fashion Victim’ For Four Days”
“Painful Skinny Jeans Land A Woman In The Hospital ”
“Here’s How Skinny Jeans Are Hurting Your Health”
The moral of the story? Well, I think there might be a few (feel free to add your own):
1. Don’t squat for prolonged periods of time while wearing skinny jeans. (I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s hardly a problem. My squatting time ability is not what it was when I was 35. Not by a long shot. If I’m gonna squat, it’s at the gym while sporting lots of forgiving lyrca.)
2. Don’t wear skinny jeans to help someone pack up to move; instead, put on your yoga pants, or convince them to hire a professional mover who, chances are, is not wearing skinny jeans.
3. Save the skinny jeans for days when you’re not sitting/squatting for extended periods of time. Skinny jeans are like the stilettos; they may look nice, but you can’t go very far in them.
4. Thank goodness some good, “real” news is dominating the headlines. I’d much rather read about same-sex couples finally being legal; two real bad guys finally being captured/killed; and Obamacare being upheld.
Ruth Curran says
June 29, 2015 at 2:23 pmI know this was intended to be serious but I could not help chuckling my way through! Seriuosly, squatting for more than a few minutes even in lycra these days is unthinkable so I join you in the “probably not at risk” category and the so glad that there are other stories dominating the news :)!
Lisa at Grandma's Briefs says
June 29, 2015 at 5:10 pmWell, I must say Ruth’s comment made me laugh out loud and give her a virtual high five. I am so not fashionable and so very not fit for skinny jeans. The health hazard for me would be in trying to get the darn things on. Then my husband would have a heart attack seeing me in them. Better for both of us for me to not even attempt wearing them. Hazard averted! (Good info, though, for those more fashionable than I am!)
CAROL CASSARA says
June 29, 2015 at 5:25 pmYes, what else will they come up with to keep us paranoid? Thankfully, I didn’t fall for this one.
Cheryl Nicholl says
June 29, 2015 at 5:46 pmSo pretty much don’t squat. Good advice in life.
Mary says
June 29, 2015 at 6:38 pmI love your post. I’m with you, not giving up my skinny jeans.
Carolann says
June 29, 2015 at 7:26 pmOh my gosh! I had to laugh too while reading this although it’s no laughing matter. Fashion can cause a lot of health issues that’s for sure. I had to have foot surgery from wearing heals for way too long. I’m not loving skinny jeans anyway…I think they make me look like a joint lol
Karen D. Austin says
June 29, 2015 at 8:09 pmOh, I don’t own a pair of skinny jeans, but this story makes me want to get a pair so that I can adopt the air of “dangerous woman.” I will have to get a new pair of sunglasses to accentuate the mood. Thanks for the warning? laugh? fashion tip?
Irene S. Levine, PhD says
June 30, 2015 at 8:53 amGreat post that puts things in perspective! Some risks are so minimal that they are worthwhile!
Rob K. says
June 30, 2015 at 11:15 pmI’ll consider myself warned….