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SCMP Reporter

SCMP, January 19, 2003

By Patsy Moy

They are the hippest fashion in town and guaranteed to turn heads - but medical research suggests it is not a designer label they should carry but a government health warning.

Canadian medical experts have slapped a health warning on hipster, or hip-hugging, jeans.

The warning, by Dr Malvinder Parmar, the medical director at Timmins and District Hospital in Ontario, says hipster jeans can cause paresthesia in the legs - a sensation of pricking, tingling or creeping on the skin.

Dr Parmar wrote to the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association on the issue.

He raised the alarm after seeing three slightly overweight young women between the ages of 22 and 35 who had worn hip-hugging trousers over the past six to eight months.

Their symptoms went away after they stopped wearing the low-cut trousers for between four and six weeks.

Chinese University obstetrics and gynaecology professor Lau Tze-kin also warned that the jeans - popular among the young and trendy in Hong Kong - could also cause inflammation of the pelvic area.

'Any garments which are too tight can also obstruct normal blood circulation,' Professor Lau said.

However, Form Six student Charmion Tam, 17, said she would continue wearing hip-huggers until they were no longer in fashion.

'The low-rise jeans look cool. Most of my girlfriends wear hip-huggers and we do not see a problem. Well, there may be some discomfort as they are worn a bit tight - but the tighter the better.

'I wear them only during holidays, so they should not pose any risk to my health. Many people say I look good in hip-huggers - I am five feet seven,' the teenager said.

Acclaimed local fashion designer William Tang Tat-chi said the fabric that low-rise trousers were made of was mostly soft and they were more comfortable than they looked. 'In fact, many Hong Kong women fit in hip-huggers because their legs are comparatively longer than women in other Asian countries, such as Japan,' he said.

Glossary

turn heads (idiom) to impress people and make them notice someone or something

hipster (slang)  pants that fit tightly over the hips and do not cover the waist; also called hip-huggers or hip-hugging trousers. Note that we use the plural form of nouns for these garments because they have two legs

paresthesia (n) abnormal skin sensations, such as itching, burning and tingling

inflammation (n) a physical response to injury, marked by pain, swelling, redness and heat. It is usually caused by a congestion of the blood vessels, with obstruction of the blood flow

acclaimed (adj)  famous and highly praised by others

Discussion points

? In your opinion, what is fashion? Is it something frequently featured in magazines or something that looks good on you?

? Do you feel more confident in your favourite outfit? What is your favourite outfit?

? How much emphasis should we put on our look?

? Would you try hip-hugging jeans after reading the article?



Hip-huggers not so hip, says doctor