Is the bizarre phenomenon 'hourglass syndrome' putting you at risk of nasty health problems?

YOU'VE probably never heard of 'hourglass syndrome', even though you may be guilty of it.

But experts have revealed how the unofficial disorder can cause uncomfortable health complications, such as back pain and acid reflux.

Hourglass syndrome occurs when someone sucks their stomach in too much, perhaps to appear skinnier.

Experts at Medicine Net say that when a person sucks in, they draw their ribs and diaphragm inwards.

Normally, during an inhale, the diaphragm - a muscle that sits below the lungs - expands outward, helping the lungs to expand.

While this may cause the illusion of an hourglass figure, and maybe even create a smaller waist in the long term, according to Medicine Net, it's not a natural way for your body to move.

The experts wrote that "many wish for a flat abdomen, however, holding it in for a long time is not a good idea".

In some cases, the body can develop hourglass syndrome as a defensive response to pain, or it is present since childhood due to poor muscle growth.

It is not officially diagnosed, but medical professionals recognise it as a real thing.

Lower back pain is one of the most common problems associated with hourglass syndrome, according to Medicine Net.

Health experts said: "The diaphragm is a critical stabiliser of the lower back. So, when it is not working accurately the lower back is left weak.

"This implies that the other muscles need to work more efficiently to make up for the dysfunction of the diaphragm of the lower back."

Holding your stomach can also cause neck pain because the chest and shoulders lift during breath, rather than the belly expanding outwards.

Moreover, if the diaphragm is damaged, it can increase the risk of acid reflux.

"Alongside its breathing and balancing functions, the diaphragm additionally works as a sphincter, assisting to prevent the stomach contents from going back up into the throat," experts said.

Dr Adam Taylor, an anatomist from Lancaster University, said this syndrome can strain the pelvic floor muscles.

He wrote in The Conversation: "If you consider the abdomen like a tube of toothpaste, squeezing it in the middle creates pressure at the top and bottom.

"The pressure at the top affects breathing by making the diaphragm (the major muscle involved in drawing air in) unable to pull down as far.

"The pressure at the bottom places greater force on the pelvic floor muscles as the abdominal cavity reduces in volume when the abdomen is sucked in.

"Alongside this, there are increased forces placed on the joints of the spine and pelvis because the abdominal muscles are less able to absorb impact when tensed."

The syndrome may also "create a fold or crease in the abdomen" due to the lower abdomen muscles being contracted less than those at the top.

The belly button may also turn more upwards due to the lower belly becoming a "pooch".

One woman revealed on TikTok that she ended up with "second set of boobs" caused by the change in her belly composition as a result of hourglass syndrome.

Hourglass syndrome isn't permanent. But just as it takes time for the method to become second nature, it takes time to unlearn it.

One of the best things you can do is strengthen the core muscles in the abdomen with exercise.

Physiotherapy can also help with learning how to use the diaphragm properly, and release strains elsewhere in the body.