Tight belts, corsets not a factor in throat cancer
November 8, 2006 
Corsets are off the hook after a Swedish study found that there is no link between tight belts and corsets and throat cancer.
It had been previously suggested that the transition in men's fashion from braces to tight belts and the growing popularity of corsets among men to trim their figure had contributed to the growing prevalence of throat cancer over recent decades.
This was first suggested in 2002 by an Italian research team, who said that corsets and tight belts can squeeze the stomach and cause acid reflux into the oesophagus. This was a particular concern for overweight men, the Italian team claimed.
However, a new study from Sweden has exploded the myth. Dr Jesper Lagergren and Dr Catarina Jansson of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm examined 618 patients suffering from various types of oesophageal and stomach cancer, and compared them with 820 healthy controls.
All subjects were asked with what frequency they had used "a belt or corset or other garment that was tightened around your waist with force" over the previous 20 years.
The Swedish team said that their study "provides evidence against a link between the use of tight belts and the risk of oesophageal or cardia adenocarcinoma," reassuring corset owners that that sensual figure does not comes at a heavy price.
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