Sucking in your stomach for strong abs can lead to ‘hourglass syndrome’ – and it can make you wet yourself, experts explain

Abs. Abs. Abs. We are told to hold in our stomachs. Stand upright and suck in that belly. But this habit comes with health risks, experts warn.

For decades, beauty standards have emphasised the importance of a flat, toned stomach and rock-hard abs. But on TikTok, people are warning about what happens when you grip your tummy too much.

“Hourglass syndrome”, which now has more than 14 million views on the video sharing platform, is the result of sucking in your stomach for an extended period of time. Because you are contracting only your upper abs, the result is a muscular imbalance in your core, which causes the appearance of creasing or indentation.

Despite its name, it is not a disease or an official medical diagnosis.

“It’s a strategy for how you’re using your muscles. You’re gripping them in a particular pattern that creates this aesthetic of dimpling,” says Julie Wiebe, a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy at the University of Michigan in the United States.