Some people go on a diet. Others go to the gym. But in Japan a more novel way of losing weight is fast gaining popularity - wearing "fat burning" underwear.
A growing number of Japanese men and women keen to lose weight are slipping into underwear which claims to burn hundreds of calories a week, simply by wearing them.
Perfect for exercise-averse food-lovers, the MXP Calorie Shaper Pants are made with non-elasticated material that the company claims can make muscles work extra hard while walking or climbing stairs.
The new underpants, from the Tokyo-based Goldwin company, claim that the average 65 kg man who walks 90 minutes a day while wearing them can burn an extra 210 kilocalories per week.
Key to the technology implemented in the underwear - which are currently only on sale in Japan - is a resin printed on the fabric to prevent it from stretching.
According to the manufacturers the extra muscle activity required to overcome the tension in the resin during normal walking activities results in effortless loss weight.
Calorie burning clothing and footwear are becoming increasingly popular in Japan.
The Japanese government has launched a number of campaigns in recent years to slim down the nation, targeting mostly older workers suffering from middle-aged spread around their waists.
Will it work?
Anything that can add to your daily energy requirements should mean you burn more calories and therefore help you manage your weight.
However, wearing 'restrictive underwear' is unlikely to improve your fitness, as the extra energy required is minimal. A better strategy would be to add more movement to your normal day. Standing up from your desk every time you are on the phone, tapping your feet while reading emails, tightening your stomach muscles every time the phone rings and taking the stairs whenever you can are all good habits to develop.
Do these and you can probably save yourself some money and discomfort that go with 'fat-burning' underwear.
Mind you... do these activities while wearing this new underwear and you will burn even more calories!
Article Author: David Beard, Calico Exercise Physiologist and Healthy Ageing expert