The Kardashian clan has been fond of waist trainers for a long time. They've become a staple in their beauty and fitness arsenal, and the reality stars have eagerly promoted them to their hordes of loyal fans. But all that is about to change, as Waist Gang Society, the company behind the Kardashian's favorite waist trainers, is facing a major lawsuit -- one that could reflect badly on the women who've so enthusiastically endorsed it. Find out just how the Kardashians are involved in this legal fracas, and what that means for the waist training fans of the world.

Modern-Day Corset

 I'm really obsessed with waist training! Thank you @premadonna87 for my new waist shapers! #whatsawaist

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Oct 29, 2014 at 9:23am PDT


So, what exactly is a waist trainer? It's a piece of fitness gear that, according to the company, "burns fatty tissue by making you sweat, targets the back, torso, waist and abdomen areas." Think of it as a fitness corset. Celebrities have embraced this concept (and the Kardashians in particular have been huge fans). There's only one problem: according to a lawsuit filed against Waist Gang Society, the products don't work. Although people used the waist trainers religiously, they did not see the results promised -- particularly the hourglass figures the Kardashian siblings so proudly displayed.

Health Concerns


Not only does the lawsuit claim that the corsets (because that's ultimately what they are) have proven ineffective, there could be serious health concerns for regular users. Corsets went out of style for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is they could do major damage: crushed lungs, damaged organs, and even cracked ribs have all been reported by users. All this for a product that doesn't even do what it claims to? Suddenly jogging is looking a lot more appealing.

What's In A Claim?


Despite the health concerns (and the inarguable proof that spot training doesn't work; you just can't force the fat in one area of your body to go away, no matter how hard you try), the Kardashians have all been big proponents of waist training. So are they going to get in trouble with this lawsuit? After all, they have been promoting the product endlessly on social media, claiming it's done wonders for them -- and listing Waist Gang Society as the benefactors of their killer figures. But despite all this, the Kardashians and Jenners look to be safe for the time being. They're not named in the $5 million class action lawsuit, which is focused solely on Waist Gang Society. And while the reality stars promoted the product like it was going out of style, it's not actually their company.

Truth In Advertising


While the Kardashians will mostly likely not face any legal issues as a result of this lawsuit, that doesn't mean they'll get off scot-free. They've been pushing and promoting waist training to millions of fans across their many social media platforms as a safe, healthy, and effective way to get in shape. It's unclear whether this was a paid promotion, or if the siblings genuinely love the cinchers as much as they seem to, but in the end they backed a product that fails to do what it claims. The Kardashians will have to do some work to gain back the faith of their social media followers, and we've all received another reminder that seeing isn't necessarily believing -- even with a celebrity endorsement.

Tags
Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Instagram, Weight loss