It’s a great day for America. Science tells us that we can stop trying to detoxify our colons, and that we can stop wearing silly shoes that are supposed to use magic to make us more fit:
Sales of hot new toning shoes from the likes of Reebok, Skechers, and Avia rose 400% in 2010. But almost as quickly as consumers hopped on board with a gimmicky product that promised quick results through less effort, doctors, fitness gurus, and consumer advocates expressed deep skepticism amounting to something like: “Come on, who are you kidding?”
A study released last fall from the American Council on Exercise concluded:
“Across the board, none of the toning shoes showed statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation. There is simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.” …
The problems with toning shoes aren’t limited to their effectiveness. A Consumer Reports study indicated that people exercising in these shoes are more likely to report injuries, including turned ankles and pain in the legs, hips, and feet.
Post title is a corruption of a line from this (NSFW!) Beastie Boys-Q-Tip collaboration:
