AN 86-year-old woman has the world’s smallest waist, after wearing a corset for 23 hours a day.
Although an extremely common fashion accessory of the past, corsets are rarely seen in the modern day, due to the extreme discomfort they can cause.
Many women who still long for an hourglass figure now choose to use a personal trainer or get cosmetic procedures to achieve their desired shape.
However, Cathie Jung, has stuck to the traditional method for over 60 years and only takes the undergarment off to bathe.
Cathie, from the USA, has held the Guinness World Record for the smallest waist for over 20 years, since she was 62.
She was just 18 when she first tried on a corset, and by the time she was 30, had opted to wear one full time.
Cathie is obsessed with Victorian style clothing, which is where her desire to wear a corset came from.
She has to wear custom made garments, to fit her unique frame.
Explaining why she first got into corsets, Cathie said: “If you’re going to wear a Victorian dress and have it look appropriate, you need to wear the right underwear.
Revealing that she never intended to have the world’s smallest waist, she added: “Once it was time to get a new [corset], it was just natural to get one a little smaller.
“It was not any goal of mine to ever get smaller or be smaller; it just was a natural occurrence.”
Cathie’s waist was originally 26 inches, but has shrunk to 21 inches over the years.
She admitted that she chooses to sleep in the corset “for convenience sake.”
She said: “If I said I would get up in the morning and put my corset on right away, it might be 5 in the afternoon and I wouldn’t have gotten there.”
Cathie doesn’t stick to a particular diet or exercise routine to keep her slim figure, and instead dodges food that causes bloating.
She said that the corset hasn’t affected her health, but added “shifts your organs around in a bit of a different area”.
Wearing corsets, a fashion practice that dates back centuries, can pose significant medical risks despite their aesthetic appeal. One of the primary concerns is the potential for internal organ damage. Corsets, especially when tightly laced, can compress the ribs and exert pressure on internal organs such as the liver, stomach, and intestines. This compression can lead to displacement and deformation of these organs, potentially causing digestive issues, reduced lung capacity, and impaired circulation.
Breathing difficulties are another serious risk associated with corset use. The constriction of the rib cage can limit the expansion of the lungs, leading to shallow breathing and decreased oxygen intake. Over time, this can result in respiratory problems and reduced stamina. In extreme cases, prolonged use of tightly laced corsets can lead to conditions like atelectasis, where parts of the lungs collapse due to inadequate ventilation.
Additionally, corsets can affect the musculoskeletal system. The constant pressure and altered posture imposed by a corset can weaken core muscles, leading to muscle atrophy and decreased strength. This can result in long-term back pain and poor posture once the corset is removed. There is also a risk of nerve compression, which can lead to numbness, tingling, and in severe cases, nerve damage.
While modern corsets are often designed to be less restrictive than their historical counterparts, the potential health risks remain. It is essential for individuals to be aware of these risks and to use corsets sparingly and with caution. Consulting with medical professionals before incorporating corsets into regular wear can help mitigate some of these risks and ensure that any adverse effects are promptly addressed.
Cathie’s partner, an orthopaedic surgeon, has kept a close eye on her over the years, to make sure that she isn’t damaging her body.
She said: “He would tell me if anything I was doing to my body would not be healthy.”
A spokesperson for the Guinness World Records said of Cathie: “She is without doubt one of our most iconic record holders ever.”
Doctors have warned against the dangers of using corsets.
Experts at MyMed.com said: “Doctors advise that you proceed with caution when undergoing waist training and do not allow for unwanted pressure on your midsection as this also limits the blood flow to your organs which can be very dangerous.”
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