Is Spandex Making Americans Fat?

January 2, 2012 12:00 pm     Posted in Body, Health, Sidebar  Garnet Henderson g+ page


By Garnet Henderson

Spandex. Estimates suggest that it is found in 80% of the clothing sold in America. Which means that almost every single American owns at least one piece of clothing that has at some amount of Spandex in it. And apparently, some people think that it’s making us fat.

The stretchy fabric emerged in 1959, and was first used in underwear and workout gear. It rose to popularity during disco mania in the 1970s, and from then on began to be used in more and more clothing. Spandex is unique because it can stretch up to twice its original size, and then snap back into shape. And it’s in everything – check the tags on your clothes and you are sure to find at least some amount of Spandex in the majority of them.

A recent NPR story, part of a series about obesity in America, traces the history of Spandex. The story completely assumes that the rise in popularity of spandex is due to the rise of obesity in America, and repeatedly suggests that spandex may be some kind of an enabler. Back in the 1960s, “fabrics were rigid and people were thin,” but Americans now are looking for clothes to accommodate their expanding waistlines. People who are overweight are able to find clothes that fit them (gasp!), so they are encouraged to remain overweight instead of dieting out of shame.

Margaret Hartmann of Jezebel took issue with the NPR piece, pointing out some of its particularly nasty parts. First of all, the women who are interviewed for the article are all identified by their dress sizes. And Brett Godwin, a size four who is shopping at Bloomingdale’s, has a thing or two to say about fat people and Spandex:

“I think that spandex is made to accommodate people who are overweight. I’ve seen some terrible sights. They are overweight, and they would put on the tightest spandex things they can find, and they just look absolutely awful.”

Martha Paschal, who is described as a “youthful-looking 50-year-old financial consultant,” talks about finding Spandex clothes that help camouflage her “muffin top.” In case you didn’t know, NPR tells us that a muffin top consists of “extra rolls of waistline flab.” Nice. Even though she feels good in her Spandex pencil skirt, Paschal says that she thinks Spandex is “dishonest” because “it lets you get away with wearing things that you probably shouldn’t just because it expands to fit.”

What’s wrong with this picture? Hartmann points it out exactly:

“Paschal’s comments are just sad because it’s clear that she’s just echoing back an awful societal message: That you’re only allowed to look attractive and feel good about yourself if you’re thin. If you find a flattering outfit in a plus-size, it doesn’t mean you look great, you’ve just created the illusion of a beautiful body through trickery.”

Paschal’s observations also make it pretty obvious to me that Spandex isn’t an enabler at all. People are very aware of their size. We’re constantly bombarded with images of stick thin models and commercials for magic, fix-it-all diet pills. We get the message that we should be thinner. Just because people of all sizes are able to buy clothes that fit them doesn’t mean that they’re being encouraged to get fat.

What do you think? Is Spandex really making Americans fat?

Garnet is a student at Columbia University in New York City. When she’s not dancing or writing, she can be found exploring the city, and let’s be honest, spending way too much time on the internet. Follow her @garnethenderson.

13 Comments on "Is Spandex Making Americans Fat?"

  1. anne says:
    Mon, 2nd Jan 20121:00 pm 

    i think the problem is not that you can find nice clothes in plus sizes now, but that if you only wear clothes that easily expand you don't notice that you're gaining weight because your clothes still fit with some extra pounds. if you'd wear cotton jeans every day you would notice….

  2. Carolynasaurus says:
    Mon, 2nd Jan 20123:44 pm 

    It's all just a function of technology. We can make. ship, and purchase high caloric food easier now because of automation, preservatives, and freezing. And at the same time, technology is allowing Spandex to be easily incorporated into fabric. It's like saying sunscreen sales increase in the summer because popsicle sales increase.

  3. LKLK says:
    Mon, 2nd Jan 20123:56 pm 

    Awesome article! Well written, and a great topic to talk about. I think it's a very real issue, but the fabric is not entirely to blame. People will be people, and if spandex is the material of the heavier-set, there's nothing that will change their minds.

    That said, spandex rocks.

  4. desert heels says:
    Mon, 2nd Jan 20124:31 pm 

    So True. I'm in love with spandex but it is almost like a Catholic priest, once they give you absolution, you can get fat again!

  5. bonkasaurus says:
    Mon, 2nd Jan 20129:01 pm 

    Great article! I pretty much live in spandex, definitely explains a lot.

    -Bianca at http://theinbetweengirls.wordpress.com/

  6. Brian says:
    Tue, 10th Jan 20128:43 am 

    i think the problem is fat people , probably such as yourself, refuse to take care of their body and go out for a run. there is only one way to "loose weight". Thats burning more calories then you take in. I think if people started to realize "hey im a lazy fat piece of crap, im going to go for morning runs and cut fast food out of my diet" they wont have to worry about complaining "its hard to find clothes in plus sizes"… go cut some weight then fatty.

  7. emd says:
    Sat, 14th Jan 201212:08 am 

    this is probably the truth of the situation. sometimes people with busy lives simply don't notice the couple pounds they gain, and then it snowballs and it's suddenly 20 pounds instead of two. and if your clothes still fit and you still feel ok, then why would you change your habits? there would be no reason to. Like you said, stiffer pants like cotton jeans would enable someone to notice those extra five pounds before they turn into 20

  8. emd says:
    Sat, 14th Jan 201212:09 am 

    this is a pretty self-righteous, not to mention rude and presumptuous, comment.

  9. Dee says:
    Tue, 14th Feb 201210:15 am 

    I really don't see why the whole world needs to be a size 2!! That is just ridiculous. I watch what I eat and exercise and am stil a size 10. At 46 and after 2 children, I feel like I am doing pretty well. no wonder we have teenage girls starving themselves to be thin. Shame on you for the rude comments.

  10. jbrittain1988 says:
    Wed, 29th Feb 20121:48 am 

    well.

    i've been on both sides. i'm a size 8 now.
    when i was unhappy, i got up to a size 14. i BARELY noticed that i'd gained weight.

    then my lovely size 2 mother started nagging me, and i took a good look in the mirror.
    anyways, i find out a little secret about clothes: in american sizes, 0-12 has a 10 lbs difference. obviously weight itself can vary depending on stature. i know quite a few plump, short size 6s. BUT. once you go above a size 12, there is usually 20 lbs difference in sizes. so to go from a size 12 to a 14, you have to gain 20 lbs.

    if you're NOT going up sizes despite putting on weight (seriously. it takes a while to put on 20 lbs) it's totally possible to be oblivious. i was. and it was so hard when i had to drop that 20 lbs and go down only ONE size. it almost didn't seem worth it. then, i dropped 10 lbs. and went down a size. then another 10 lbs. im hoping to keep up the momentum, 10 lbs at a time.

  11. Vanda says:
    Thu, 10th Jan 20131:07 pm 

    Regardless of their size, you can’t consider the qutiitnay of material in that way when it comes to clothes. You’re paying for something that you believe looks good or is brand name or suits the weather and fits to your comfort. As a skinny person, I do know where you’re coming from. If you’re good at sewing like my girlfriend, you’ll buy the XL shirts, and change it to a new outfit. This only really benefits you if you’re buying larger sizes for making more clothes hahaReferences :

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