Shape Up or Ship Out

Do the new Shape-Up shoes really work?

By Kelly Bernier, Director of Fitness and Instruction, UVA Aquatic Fitness Center

Everyone is wondering – is it hype or do they really work?  Promote weight loss, tone lower body and abs, and improve posture just by wearing different shoes!  The claims seem too good to be true, but people are willing to wear these less than stylish shoes for a chance at an easy fix.

Wearing these shoes has been likened to ‘standing on little boats.’  The heel is slightly set lower than your traditional shoe and the bottom of the shoe is curved.  This forces the wearer to constantly work to be balanced and centered.

Let’s examine each claim:

Improve posture:  This claim is reasonable.  Your posture will improve as your balance improves.  As your balance is challenged, your body will adapt and begin to align its skeleton hence becoming more efficient while standing and walking. 

Strengthen abdominals:  Good balance requires core strength.  As your balance improves it makes sense that your core will increase its strength.  Your core is made up of your abdominal and back muscles and is an important player in protecting the spine.   A common misconception is that a strong core means a toned core.  Six pack abs and toned muscles come from more than shoes.  Genetics play a large role, as does body composition.  There is no way around it, burning fat results from a commitment to a well-balanced exercise plan. 

Tone thighs, calves and butt:  These shoes will challenge these muscles to work differently than they would in traditional shoes, but guaranteed toning is a stretch for the same reasons listed above.  Reducing the fat on any particular part of the body is not possible.  Just like chewing gum doesn’t give us a chiseled jaw. 

Promote weight loss:  Any sort of activity can promote weight loss, with or without the special shoes.  The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 60 minutes of activity each day.  This can be in short bouts or all at once, but when the goal is weight loss the focus should be on intensity.  Keep up the pace, you should be able to carry on a conversation, but not sing a song. 

Some points to keep in mind:  These shoes are designed for walking and other low-impact activities not running, group exercise classes or sports that involve high-impact movement.  Downhill walking can be bothersome as the curved sole can force toes to crunch at the front of the shoe on downhill slopes.

Are they worth it?

Pros: They’re a convenient way to add a balance challenge throughout the day.

Cons: They’re expensive and not the most attractive shoes, but if they will encourage you to become more active than you currently are then  they may be worth the investment.