Skechers Shape-Ups are Just Plain Sketchy

The most recent commercial for Skechers Shape-Ups stars Kim Kardashian in a dimly lit room lying underneath a shirtless man, seductively saying, “It’s the best I’ve ever had.” In the last five seconds of the commercial, it becomes apparent that she is advertising the latest shoe fad as she stands and says “Bye-bye trainer, hello Shape-Ups. ” Her tag endorses the marketing claims that Shape Ups will help you burn more calories while toning leg muscles and improving posture.

Skechers Shape-Ups asserts that they have conducted studies to demonstrate the effects of wearing their shoes, however, when asked for more information regarding the benefits of their product, they forbid access to any additional information. Their rationale for this is that such information is private and more insight may be found by scouring the websites of their competitors (ie, Mosai Barefoot Technology, Reebok Easy Tone, etc).

Current available research examining the effects of toning shoes is limited, low quality, unpublished, and never peer-reviewed. In addition, conducted studies were often funded by the companies themselves and offer mixed results regarding increases in muscle activity, metabolic cost, and postural improvements.

Based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines, strength training occurs at 60% of one’s 1 rep max. Strength gains, therefore, are being falsely advertised as an outcome by all toning shoes. Although some studies may have demonstrated an increase in metabolic cost, the question remains whether this observed increase is significant enough to impact one’s fitness or to promote weight loss? If so, does the increase in metabolic cost continue to show long-term effects or will there be an evident decrease in energy expenditure due to a training effect? Unfortunately, the high variability among the results of these studies makes it difficult to develop a consensus confirming the many proposed effects of these shoes.

Despite the lack of evidence available to support the proclaimed effects of Skechers Shape-Ups, they line the shelves of most all shoe stores and have more than doubled the brand’s net sales in the last year. This has led consumers to become absorbed with the idea that wearing these shoes will help tone their muscles, improve their posture and circulation, and reduce cellulite “without ever stepping foot in the gym.” Some customers report that wearing toning shoes makes walking fun and encourages them to lead more active lifestyles. With that said, these shoes may seem like the perfect answer to the “greatest public health issue of our time,” physical inactivity. Steven Blair reports that nearly 16% of all deaths are attributed to low cardio-respiratory fitness. Consequentially, making the cure increasing physical activity among all individuals by reducing the amount of time spent sitting. Recent studies have shown that simply counseling patients and prescribing physical activity is sufficient enough to increase one’s physical activity levels by 12-50% for at least 6 months. Thus, while consumers are being misled to pay large sums of money for Shape-Ups to attain the body that they’ve always wanted, it is our job as health care professionals to provide them with more accurate information. There is no quick fix, or substitute for hard work and a healthy diet when attempting to improve fitness levels. With a lack of evidence to support the purposed effects of toning shoes, I believe the only advantage of this shoe is to merely encourage and motivate buyers to increase their physical activity levels, much like new workout clothes or equipment would.

When considering making lifestyle changes to achieve a healthier and more fit you, it is important to remember that if exercise alone will not result in significant weight loss, neither will just wearing Shape-Ups as advertised. In fact, the Surgeon General currently recommends 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days of the week to improve health and quality of life. By educating people on how and why to increase physical activity levels, we can serve to enhance their participation in physical activities. So if you or someone you know is contemplating purchasing a toning shoe, remember that evidence supporting the proposed effects of Skechers Shape-Ups is just plain sketchy.

Therefore when searching the market for products that encourage people to get in shape, one should first consider more efficient and effective options including new or used exercise equipment (ie, stability balls, dumbbells, ankle weights), attending free or low cost gyms, and jogging/walking in the park. Other alternatives include exploring exercise DVD collections or mobile applications, (ie, P90X, Insanity, and/or Kettlebell workouts, etc), that require minimal access to gym equipment and are designed to continually challenge your cardiovascular and muscular fitness.

 Blair SN. Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. Br J Sports Med. 2009;43:1-2.

Khan K. Limiting our daily sitting/lying to just 23.5 hours: too ambitious? Br J Sports Med. 2009;49:79.

Sallis RE. Exercise is medicine and physicians need to prescribe it! Br J Sports Med. 2009;43:3-4.