Skechers Shape Ups Effects

According to Skechers website, the shape-up shoe is designed to "help burn more calories, tone muscles, improve posture, and reduce joint stress." According to Consumer Reports 2010 Health Blog, toning shoes like Skechers are "the newest craze in athletic footwear, projected to grow 500 percent to become a $1.5 billion market this year." While health-related websites are packed with comments from happy consumers that feel that shape-ups have been beneficial to them, not everyone agrees.

  1. Consumer Reports Health Blog

    • Consumer Reports Magazine is known for its unbiased product reviews and ratings. On their August 2010 Health Blog, Consumer Reports medical adviser, Orly Avitzur, M.D. wrote about her experience wearing Skechers shape-ups and said, "If it were up to me, the shoes would be sold in a store's exercise equipment department--not in the shoe department---because they should be worn at most for a couple of hours to supplement your exercise routine, not for an entire day." She titled her article "A wobbly experience" and concluded that more testing is needed.

    American Council on Exercise

    • The American Council on Exercise not only promotes the benefits of physical activity, they also protect consumers against unsafe and ineffective health and fitness products, trends, and programs. According to their study by John Porcari Ph.D, John Greany, Ph.D., Stephanie Tepper, M.S., Brian Edmonson, B.S., and Carl Foster, Ph.D., "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."

    What Does Sketchers Say?

    • According to National Public Radio, President of Skechers Fitness Group, Leonard Armato remarked that the brand has received "12,000 unsolicited positive reviews of Shape-Ups" and has released three studies that say the shoe does work. Dr. Steve Gautreau of California is quoted on the Skechers official website, "After performing a six-week clinical trial testing the benefits of SKECHERS Shape-ups, I am confident in recommending them to patients to increase their low back endurance and improve gluteal strength. Patients also benefited from weight loss and improved body composition."